HADLEY — After winning only one game in 2016, the Hopkins Academy softball team opened its 2017 season with a 13-1 win in five innings over Franklin Tech Monday night.
“It feels so good I could cry,” said coach Paula Cristoforo.
Self-proclaimed underdogs, the Golden Hawks wanted to start their season strong and energized. Their bats came out in the first two innings, dominating Franklin Tech en route to an 8-0 lead.
Macy Ring’s triple in the third put Hopkins ahead 9-0. Ring also had two singles and three RBIs.
“In the first couple innings, my girls were hitting very well and my pitching was very strong,” said Cristoforo. pitcher Maegan Quinlan “did and amazing job, coming through and getting several strikeouts for us as well as our hitting really coming alive and being confident up at the plate. We came out really strong, so we’re pretty pleased with that.”
Hopkins entered the fifth in front 12-0. Quinlan shut out Franklin Tech through 4⅓ innings and also added a double two RBIs at the plate.
Allison Markowski relieved her with the bases loaded and one out. Markowski forced a pop up for the second out, but walked in Franklin Tech’s only run. She struck out the next batter to end the inning.
Greta Kurtz’s double in the bottom of the fifth brought in fellow senior captain Kelsea Cristoforo, who clinched the mercy-rule shortened victory for the Golden Hawks. Kurtz had three doubles and a team-high four RBIs.
“A big part of this season is the team bonding,” said Kelsea Cristoforo. “I feel like the vibe is really good and everyone just jells.”
Hopkins graduated many of its players from last year. Five sophomores who played junior varsity last season joined the roster, along with one freshman and three eighth-graders.
The Golden Hawks rely on the leadership core of Kurtz, Kelsea Cristoforo and Taylor Robbins to guide the younger players.
“This year we have a younger team,” said Kurtz. “It’s nice to bring them up and groom them for the following years.”
Getting their first win in their first game is much different than last season and Kurtz hopes to bring the same confidence in future games.
“It’s definitely going to change the dynamic of our season,” said Kurtz. “We started off kind of rough last year. Now we are closer and bonded, so I think it will go well for the rest of the season.”