Only lightning could stop the Amherst Regional girls ultimate team at the USA Ultimate Northeastern High School Regional Championships.
The Hurricanes led Watchung Hills (New Jersey) 9-5 after a dramatic catch in traffic by Katy King with seven minutes remaining Sunday in Pittsburgh.
“As she was catching it lightning bolts were starting to fall, and the tournament director was canceling it,” Amherst coach Josh Nugent said.
Much like a baseball game, if a certain amount of time has passed, an ultimate match is declared official, handing Amherst its seventh consecutive Northeast title.
The Hurricanes beat their own junior varsity 13-4 in the semifinals and Radnor (Pennsylvania) 13-1 in the quarterfinals Sunday after gong 4-0 in Saturday’s pool play.
“We were in a pretty weak pool. We cruised,” Nugent said. “We didn’t play anyone who was a major threat.”
Amherst’s boys team also claimed a regional title earlier Sunday, taking down Pennsbury (Pennsylvania) 13-4 in a rematch of last year’s final that the Hurricanes lost.
“The difference was our depth. Everybody on the roster contributed,” Amherst coach Joe Costello said. “I felt like our team was in a completely different league, and it’s because of our depth. We didn’t see anybody that could match that.”
They beat Montpelier 13-6 in the semifinals and Masconomet Regional 13-8 in the quarterfinals.
Amherst went 3-0 in Saturday’s pool play.
The Northeast Regional titles Amherst won will be the last any high school ultimate team takes home.
USA Ultimate is phasing out the regional tournaments after this year to put the focus on high school state tournaments, Nugent said.
This season’s Massachusetts Division I state championships will take place next weekend in Northampton, while Division II and III are June 4 and 5, respectively, in Devens.
The discontinuation of the regional tournaments raises the profile of tournaments like the Amherst Invitational and Pioneer Valley Invitational that invite schools from multiple states.
Hoosac Valley 14, Gateway 7 — Jake McKittrick hit two doubles and drove in three runs for the Gators in a home loss Saturday.
Jayden Marge went 3-for-4 and scored three runs, while Tyler Heeter and Brian Battles also had RBIs for Gateway (4-12).
Amherst 3, Longmeadow 2 — Will Budington drove in the winning run in the sixth inning for the Hurricanes on Saturday.
Max Hopley hit a two-RBI single in the fourth inning.
John Bella-Hunter struck out five for Amherst (4-11, 2-7 Valley) to earn the win, while Jake Balderston picked up a save.
Hampshire Regional 4, Easthampton 1 — Camden Kelly drove in two runs and walked twice for the Raiders in a home win Saturday.
Riley Provost drove in the other run for Hampshire (8-6).
Hunter Leveille went 1-for-3 and had an RBI for Eastampton (6-9) and took the loss on the mound.
Granby 10, Gateway 4 — Joe Laporte struck out nine in seven innings Sunday for the Rams.
Mike Sosa and Noah Bleakley each had two hits and an RBI for Granby (14-2, 5-0 Bi-County North).
Josh Webster led Gateway (4-13, 1-5 Bi-County North) with two hits, including a triple.
Southwick 2, Northampton 1 — Zoe Driscoll-Sbar drove in the Blue Devils’ run in the top of the sixth inning of a road loss.
Jenna Subocz had Northampton’s other hit.
Anna Kerwood struck out seven but allowed nine hits for Northampton (11-7).
Boys lacrosse
Northampton 9, Amherst 0 — Bryce Wall stopped all 10 shots in a shutout for the Blue Devils on Saturday.
Henry Attias led Northampton (10-5) with three goals while Ian Shaw scored twice.
Jake Hibberd made six saves for Amherst (6-12).
Baseball
Hoosac Valley 14, Gateway 7
Hoosac Valley 013 223 3 — 14 12 7
Gateway 002 221 0 — 7 9 4
WP—Kogut LP—Turban
Records: Hoosac Valley (10-6) Gateway (4-12)
Amherst 3, Longmeadow 2
Longmeadow 000 200 0 — 2 3 0
Amherst 000 201 x — 3 4 1
WP—J. Bella-Hunter LP—Flahive S—Balderston
Records: Longmeadow (6-10, 2-7 Valley) Amherst (4-11, 2-7 Valley)
Hampshire Regional 4, Easthampton 1
Easthampton 001 000 0 — 1 3 2
Hampshire Regional 002 020 x — 4 5 0
WP—Fitzpatrick LP—Leveille S—Weyant
Records: Easthampton (6-9) Hampshire (8-6)
Granby 10, Gateway 4
Granby 312 102 1 — 10 9 3
Gateway 102 000 1 — 4 3 3
WP—Laporte LP—Bean
Records: Granby (14-2, 5-0 Bi-County North) Gateway (4-13, 1-5 Bi-County North)
Softball
Southwick 2, Northampton 1
Northampton 000 001 0 — 1 2 0
Southwick 000 001 1 — 2 9 0
WP—Lachtara LP—Kerwood
Records: Northampton (11-7) Southwick (14-5)