CHS softball team bounces back with 2 straight wins
By Mike Berger
Sophomore Caroline Hughes had a big week on the mound and at the plate. (Mike Barucci photo)
After opening the season with three straight blowout losses, the Canton High varsity softball team rebounded in a big way last week, blanking Sharon 16-0 and edging out Foxboro 6-5 for their first two wins of the spring campaign. The lady Bulldogs were also competitive in a 12-6 loss to Franklin on Monday and entered last night’s game against Taunton at 2-4 overall.
In the Foxboro win last Thursday, Canton battled back from deficits of 4-0 and 5-2 to tie the game at 5-5 before winning it in the bottom of the seventh on a two-out RBI single by freshman Steph Trendell.
Another freshman, Liz Bickett, finished with three hits, including a homerun, while Trendell and sophomore Caroline Hughes added two hits apiece. Hughes, the Bulldogs’ starting pitcher, also did her part on the mound, striking out five Warrior batters to earn her second consecutive win.
Against Sharon earlier in the week, Hughes was outstanding as she struck out seven batters and limited the Eagles to just three hits over seven innings. Hughes collected three hits herself while Trendell, Allie Chin and Katie Halloran each had two. Halloran also came up big defensively, turning in an unassisted double play at second base.
In the Franklin game on Monday, the Panthers built an early lead but Canton was still productive at the plate, cutting the deficit to 9-6 in the bottom of the fourth inning before Franklin added additional runs in the fifth and sixth innings. Bickett and Torie Anglin had two RBIs apiece for the hosts while Amanda Vrabel, Trendell and Sarah Kelly all had hits.
Head coach Jen Robillard said she has been encouraged by the improvements she has seen over the past few games and credited the freshmen for providing a spark. “The freshmen bring us energy and are so much fun,” she said. “The rest of the team gets excited by their play. Their hitting and fearlessness have spread to the rest of the team.”
She also praised Hughes, whose hard work in the offseason has started to pay dividends. “She is firing the ball harder and showing much better control,” said Robillard.
Robillard said Canton faced the iron of the Hockomock League over the first two weeks of the season but figured the team would be more competitive as the schedule lightened up. The lopsided nature of the first three losses also gave the coach the chance to play everyone and evaluate each player’s skill level.
Other team members include Taylor Harris, Evelyn and Lillian Carrington, Caitlyn Cahill, Gavrielle Mayman, Grace Lehane, Hannah Jerrier, Jackie Howard, Lindsey Barrett, and Sam Keefe.
Short URL: https://www.thecantoncitizen.com/?p=38826
Posted by Mike Berger
on May 4 2018. Filed under High School, Sports.
Both comments and pings are currently closed.
