Fun to find this pic above and the article below in our local paper on Tuesday:
FITCHBURG -- The Monty Tech softball team took a big step forward in its pursuit of a playoff berth Monday, riding a 10-run first inning to a 15-1 five-inning, mercy-shortened victory over Colonial Athletic League rival Nashoba Tech.
The Bulldogs (6-5, 5-3) will continue their crucial stretch of four games in as many days Tuesday when they host Gardner High. Nashoba Tech falls to 4-8 (2-6).
"We knew going in that the competition was not as strong as it has been, or will be, and we had to jump on them early and get some runs, which we did," Monty Tech head coach Dave Reid said. "We stopped running after the first two batters, we were going to score only on hits. It worked out well."
Bulldog catcher Liz Raymond had the
SENTINEL & ENTERPRISE / JOHN LOVE Monty Tech's Justine Landfried fires one in.
most potent offensive performance, with a 3-for-4, three-RBIs showing. No. 9 hitter Justine Landfried impressed,
going 2 for 3 with two RBIs, and junior Kelsey Bosselait provided a spark off the bench, as she went 1 for 1 with two RBIs.
"(Raymond) has been hitting all year," Reid said. "Her goal is to hit well. Bosselait is a junior, but she's playing behind another junior, Taylor (Bacigalupo), who is our leading hitter on the team this year, so she's not getting her playing time. But she's a decent defensive player and swung the bat well when she got in there today."
Landfried, a sophomore hurler from Fitchburg,
had a stellar showing in the circle, pitching a
complete game, allowing one earned run on two hits, while striking out eight and walking
one.
The talent gap between the Bulldogs and Nashoba Tech showed early. After a leadoff walk and single put runners on the corners to start the game, Monica Pucko lifted a floater to left field to put the first Bulldog run on the board. Raymond tallied her first of three hits next on an RBI single to left field, and then a walk loaded the bases.
Shelby Roussel, a freshman, made it a three-run advantage on an infield hit, then Emilee Flynn drove in a run on an error. The bottom of the order kept the streak going when Paige Girouard chipped a base hit to center field and Landfried plated two runs on a similar hit to center that made it 7-0.
In all, 10 batters stepped to the plate before the Vikings could even record an out. During that stretch, the Bulldogs recorded six hits. The out drought finally ended as leadoff hitter Brandi Richard came around for her second at-bat and skied a sacrifice fly to left field to plate the hosts' eighth run.
Following the seventh hit of the inning, the Vikings recorded the second out. Raymond then drilled a liner to left that was bobbled, leading to a run scored and two runners advancing into scoring position. Bacigalupo reached on an error at first base next, which capped off the inning at 10-0.
The Vikings avoided the shutout in the top half of the third, when Molly Eagan connected on a groundout, which cut the deficit to 10-1.
Monty Tech rebounded after a quiet second inning with a pair of runs in the bottom of the third. After a handful of substitutions, Bosselait entered the game and came through with an RBI single. Flynn later connected on a groundout to extend the lead to 12-1.
The fourth inning put the Bulldogs in a position to end the game early. Landfried started with a double, then, following two walks, an error plated a run to reach the 12-run mercy threshold. Raymond kept momentum going with an RBI on an infield hit, before Bosselait capped off the scoring with a sacrifice groundout.
Landfried spoiled any hope of avoiding a mercy when she fanned the first two
batters of the fourth inning and induced a harmless dribbler to first base to end the game.