Comeback win caps off good week for CHS softball

Sophomore Julie Nagel had a big week at the plate for the Bulldogs. (Mike Barucci photo)

A close loss to the defending state champs, a successful team fundraiser, and a thrilling comeback victory highlighted a productive second week for the CHS varsity softball team.

While it wasn’t perfect — the team still lost three out of four games and fell to 1-5 overall — the Bulldogs certainly have a reason to be encouraged after going toe to toe with the vaunted Milford Hawks and playing competitive softball in both games of a doubleheader against Boston Latin Academy.

In the Milford game last Thursday, Canton held the defending D1 champions scoreless through five innings and also out-hit the Hawks before faltering in the sixth in an eventual 3-0 defeat. Sophomore Sarah Reissfelder drew the start for the Bulldogs and pitched brilliantly, and the defense played great behind senior second baseman Andrea Tamasi, who made six of nine outs between the third and fifth innings.

Despite the loss, head coach Ed Amico said he was both impressed and encouraged by the team’s performance. “They showed that if they play seven innings, they can play with anyone on any day,” he said.

Later in the week, the Bulldogs also proved their resiliency as they fought back from a 6-0 deficit to win 7-6 in extra innings in the opening game of their annual doubleheader.

After tying it up in the last of the seventh inning, Canton went on to win the game in the eighth with some “perfect small ball,” according to Amico.

Tamasi got things going with a lead-off single and advanced to second on a throwing error. She then moved to third on a perfectly placed bunt by Kaitlyn McCarthy and sped home after Colleen Phelan’s hit to the right side of the infield.

Andrea Tamasi (right) designed the Bulldogs’ shirts for Saturday’s fundraiser.

Tamasi and Julie Nagel each had multiple-hit games for the Bulldogs, and freshman Hannah Link pitched all seven innings and was awarded the game ball by the coaching staff.

In the second game, the Bulldogs jumped out to a 4-0 lead, but they couldn’t hold on as BLA went on to win 18-11.

Tamasi, Nagel, and McCarthy all had multiple-hit games while Link reached base all five times she was up. Phelan and Gabby Matthews also had big games offensively for the hosts.

“The two games served as a total-team effort and everyone got to see some quality, valuable varsity experience,” said Amico afterwards. “Of particular note was freshman Taylor Carrington, who was called up from the JV team and did an awesome job of pitching two innings of game two.”

Saturday’s doubleheader also served as a fundraiser in honor of the late Bill Cravens Sr., a longtime supporter of CHS athletics. The girls wore shirts designed by Tamasi that had “Catch it for Cravens” emblazoned on the front, and the team sold an assortment of food and drink throughout the afternoon.

“Although winning two games was the goal, winning one game, raising money for a great cause, and the girls coming together on and off the field to show the true character of this team made it an awesome Saturday,” said Amico.

The team would like to thank Bertucci’s, Dunkin Donuts, and Shaw’s Supermarket for their donations, as well as all of the parents and family members who helped throughout the day.

This week, the Bulldogs had another busy slate with three games in four days: Monday against Oliver Ames, Wednesday against Sharon, and Thursday against nonleague Watertown at 3:45 p.m.

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