EASTHAMPTON — Jocelyn Mettey and Abby McClaflin powered the 10-and-under Easthampton softball all-stars past Quaboag, 22-0 at Wilby Field in Nonotuck Park Tuesday.
The win gave Easthampton a 2-0 victory in the best-of-three series and its first ever Section 1 championship.
“I took the program over three years ago,” Easthampton coach Chris Mettey said. “We worked hard to get the girls ready.”
McClaflin, a former baseball player playing her first year in softball, had the bases loaded in the fourth inning. She laced the ball down the first-base line for an inside-the-park grand slam.
“I was late on the ball,” McClaflin said. “It was just easier to get it past the base. I knew I was going get home because of where it went and how I could get around the bases fast enough.”
Easthampton beat Westfield for the Western Massachusetts title. The Section 1 champions will travel to play Woburn in the state championship.
The battle for the Little League state crown will end with a best-of-three series that begins on Saturday.
“I’m very excited,” McClaflin said. “I hope we win.”
McClaflin liked baseball for the fast pitches, but she made the decision to play softball after some encouragement from her coach.
As the softball competition stiffens, the pitches from the circle have gotten faster and faster. It hasn’t bothered McClaflin, who went 3 for 4 with five RBIs against Quaboag.
Jocelyn Mettey pitched three innings, struck out eight and didn’t give up a hit. She helped herself with a double, a single and three RBIs.
“It’s cool,” Jocelyn Mettey said of going to the state finals.
Rosie Follet pitched two innings in relief for Easthampton and struck out five. Caity Therrien struck out the side in the sixth to close the game.
Kirsten Congdon had Quaboag’s lone hit in the fourth inning.
Easthampton pounded out 12 hits in the game.
In the first inning, Follet had an RBI groundout to make it 4-0. McKenzie McCarthy (two hits) and Ashley Cortis both singled in the inning.
Kayley Downie’s second inning RBI single made it 9-0. In the fourth inning, McCarthy belted a bases-clearing double to make it 13-0.
Kaelin Damon’s RBI on an infield single made the score 14-0.
Jessica Cloutier drew a bases-loaded walk in the fifth inning. MaKenna Slate singled in the fifth inning for Easthampton.
