Resurgent CHS softball punches ticket to D2 tourney

Last year the CHS varsity softball team won just one game all season and then opened the 2018 campaign with three consecutive lopsided losses. But with an influx of talent and energy from a strong freshman class and good leadership from the seniors, the lady Bulldogs have turned their season around and can now look forward to the MIAA playoffs after Tuesday’s 17-0 win over visiting Randolph on Senior Day.

Senior Hannah Jerrier (Mike Barucci photo)

With the victory, powered by a barrage of offense and a dazzling no-hitter from starting pitcher Caitlyn Cahill, Canton improved to 7-11 overall and officially punched its ticket to the Division 2 south tournament. The girls earned the invite by virtue of the Sullivan Rule, which allows teams that play most of their games against higher division opponents to reach the postseason on the strength of their division record only.

This year, all but six of Canton’s games came against D1 opponents, and the win over Randolph ensured that the Bulldogs would finish no worse than .500 in those six Division 2 games. “It’s a way of evening out the playing field,” head coach Jen Robillard said of the Sullivan Rule.

Canton was due to play Randolph again on Wednesday and will then host Stoughton on Friday in the regular season finale before turning its attention to the postseason.

In last week’s action, the Bulldogs went 2-2 with wins over Sharon 11-4 and Boston Latin Academy 10-5 in the second game of a doubleheader. The team lost the first game to BLA 8-3 and also fell to Foxboro at home 10-5.

In the Sharon win last Monday, Caroline Hughes pitched four innings of no-hit ball and also had a big day at the plate with four hits, including two doubles. Liz Bickett also had four hits while Torie Anglin added a triple. Cahill, coming back from a shoulder injury, pitched the final three innings in relief.

In the team’s other win last week, the lady Bulldogs combined strong pitching with timely hitting and good defense to salvage a split against Latin Academy at home. Hannah Jerrier and Hughes each had a single and a double while Evelyn Carrington added three singles and Bickett and Steph Trendell contributed two singles apiece.

Hughes pitched a complete game and worked her way out of several jams, aided by good team defense.

“It is amazing we are talking playoffs; it’s a change of mindset,” said Robillard. “We got the energy out of the freshmen and the leadership from the seniors. The team realizes it can play and play well.”

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Posted by Mike Berger on May 25 2018. Filed under High School, Sports. Both comments and pings are currently closed.