Franklin Tech pitcher Hannah Gilbert will play against Hopkins Academy in Hadley earlier this season.
Staff file photo/Dan Little
TURNER’S FALLS — With one game left until the Western Massachusetts Tournament begins, Monday’s game between Franklin Tech and the Frontier Softball team is a good opportunity for both teams to prepare for the type of competition they will likely see in the postseason. It became.
The Eagles took an early lead against the Red Hawks, scoring one run in the first inning and three runs in the second to take a 4-0 lead. Hannah Gilbert did the rest, holding a tough Frontier lineup to just two runs and leading Franklin Tech to a 5-2 victory at Nancy Gifford Field.
“It was a regular season game, but we tried to treat it like a postseason game,” Eagles coach Joe Gamache said. “We know this is a talented team that is going to play postseason softball. We wanted to have a focused mindset.”
Gilbert held the RedHawks (9-8) to just five hits and had 11 strikeouts. Frontier seventh-grader Lane Wonsey also had an impressive performance in the circle, striking out three and giving up nine hits.
“Hannah Gilbert pitched a great game,” Redhawks coach Gary Dean said. “That’s the kind of pitcher we’re looking for going into the postseason. It was a good game. We’re ready for the tournament.”
Franklin Tech (15-2) scored in the first inning on Kate Trudeau’s double and Gilbert’s hit.
The Eagles’ offense kept its foot on the gas in the second. Jenna Petrovic hit a single and Lily Ross walked, then Gilbert came to the plate and hit a single over left field. Petrovic hit the ball home, and the throw to catch Ross reached the outfield, allowing Ross to score as well. Kylie Gamache then hit a double that drove in Gilbert, giving Tech a 4-0 lead.
“Hannah had a great pitching performance,” Joe Gamache said. “Defensively we made some plays behind her and she got some timely hits as well so that was the difference in the game.”
Frontier got one run back in the third inning. Delaney Fifield started the game with a single, and Skyler Steele hit a double that hit the fence, scoring Fifield. Sofia Pinardi singled for a steal to cut the lead to 4-2 going into the bottom of the third inning.
Tech went for its final run in the fifth inning. Gianna DiCiullo issued a walk, followed a Petrovich single and scored on a wild pitch to put the Eagles ahead 5-2.
Gilbert went 4-for-4 at bat, and Gamache had two hits, including the winning double. Steele hit two doubles, increasing the freshman’s career hit total to 98, and Haley Hutkoski added a base hit for Frontier.
Dean said he was impressed with the play of the Redhawks’ defense, noting that the Redhawks have been a strong unit all season.
“Our defense is really good,” Dean said. “We’re not a strikeout team. The ball was put in play and we did a really good job on the field today.”
Frontier hosts Taconic on Wednesday to end the regular season, while Franklin Tech hosts Pioneer on Wednesday to end the regular season.
Pioneer 26, Athol 13 — Kelly Baird shined at the plate for the Panthers in a Franklin County League East game against the Bears in Athol on Monday, hitting two doubles, two home runs, a single and six RBIs. I released it.
Natalie Johnson added a run with a double, Avery Johnson, Layla Goulston and Allie Clary all had two hits and an RBI, Jacobi Tyminski had four hits and four RBIs, and Maggie Chipenyuk had two hits and one RBI. RBI, Roslyn Moore finished with a hit. And Pioneer’s RBI.
Jenna Bonnenfan had two doubles and a single, Jaylin Chaparonis and Allie Robertson each had a double, and Celia Fox had a safe hit for Athol.
Greenfield 4, Agawam 1 — The Green Wave achieved a road victory over the Brownies thanks to Mackenzie Poulin’s three hits, one triple, and two RBIs, making it their 10th straight win.
Elise Benitez had two hits, Ivy Ray and Anna Bucala each had a single, and Gloria McDonald and Megan Collins had RBIs for Greenfield. Poulin had seven strikeouts and scattered four hits in the win.
Hopkins 16, Mahal 1 (5) — Dakota Cleveland had two hits in the Senators’ Franklin County League East loss to the Golden Hawks on Monday in Hadley.
Avery Savage, Mackenzie Matthews, and Alivia Patch replaced Mahal with safe hits.
