Lauren Morse put an exclamation point on her varsity debut. The Easthampton softball eighth grader launched a three-run homer in the sixth inning, as the Eagles beat Northampton 9-1 on Tuesday at home.
Rachael Robinson struck out nine and allowed just two hits and a walk.
Kristalynn Culver went 3-for-4 and scored a run for Easthampton (1-0).
Abby McClalfin, Robinson and Olivia Downer all added a hit each.
Jill McGrath (run) and Marissa Badorini singled for the Blue Devils (0-1). Badorini started and struck out four.
Northampton 7, East Longmeadow 6 (nine innings) — Devontay Edmonds delivered a two-out walkoff single to right field with two strikes to start the Blue Devils’ season with a win.
Dillon Diemand reached first base on a dropped third strike with one out in the bottom of the ninth. Dan White and Jake Brittain walked to load the bases.
The Blue Devils (1-0) had a chance to win the game in the seventh inning, but a baserunning mistake sent it to extras.
Patrick Serio crushed a bases-loaded double during the sixth inning that helped tie the game.
“It missed being a grand slam by literally a foot,” Northampton coach Mark Baldwin said.
He picked up the win after three efficient relief innings.
Jackson heath went 3-for-4 with three RBIs.
Edmonds had two hits, the game-winning RBI and scored twice.
Noah Brink added an RBI single and scored two runs.
Sci-Tech 7, Smith Vocational 4 — Tom Doyle (RBI) and Jaxon Venne had two hits each for the Vikings in a season-opening loss. William Mollison and Dylan Fil (RBI) singled for Smith Vocational (0-1). Race Drobiak threw four innings of relief, striking out four.
Monson, 7, Granby 4 — Nate Loughman had seven saves, and Nate Drapeau score two goals. Christian Perez and Mitch Labbee each had a goal and Tanner Imelio had an assist for the Rams (0-2, 0-1 Central). The game was tied heading into the fourth quarter before Monson broke it with three unanswered goals.
East Longmeadow 11, South Hadley 10 — Hunter Carey tallied a goal and three assists in a road loss to open the year. Sean Mechuen scored a hat trick, while Shawn Mitchell and Liam Dawson each had two goals ad an assist. Mike Senecal added a goal and an assist. Ryan Leverault found the net for the Tigers (), while Jacey Rondeau made eight saves.
Pope Francis 8, Amherst Regional 7 — Ty Borrell (assist) and Tabor Bowman each scored two goals. Dom MacDonald and Dimitris Son each had one goal. Conner Bowen made eight saves. Sam Leonard and Will Borrell (goal) both had an assist for the Hurricanes (0-1). With the game tied up, Pope Francis scored with nine seconds left to deny overtime.
South Hadley outshot the Spartans 28-19.
Hotchkiss 20, Williston 5 — Rachel Burk had two goals, while Nacy Harrington and Teaghan Hall added a goal and an assist each in a home loss.
Campbell Nyarady also found the net, and Claudia Capone had an assist for the Wildcats (0-1).
Belchertown 12, Chicopee 4 — Hannah Mitus scored three goals and added an assist. Erin Lucas had two goals and an assist. Elise Pikul and Alexis Mastorakis both scored twice, while Lauren Pope, Lily Guerin and Kelsey Reardon all found the net. Emily Sayball-Wimmer stopped five shots for the Orioles (2-0, 1-0 Pioneer).
Boys volleyball
Central 3, Belchertown 0 — Nathan Wright and Tyler Grissom had three kills each in a 25-12, 25-19, 25-17 loss. David Hulmes and John Mahaney each fired two aces, and James Lawless made a block for the Orioles (0-1).
Softball
Easthampton 9, Northampton 1
Northampton 100 000 0 — 1 2 2
Easthampton 040 023 x — 9 9 2
WP—Robinson LP—Badorini
Records: Easthampton (1-0) Northampton (0-1)
Baseball
Northampton 7, East Longmeadow 6
East Longmeadow 201 120 000 — 6 9 2
Northampton 020 004 001 — 7 9 4
WP—Serio LP—Baxter
Records: Northampton (1-0) East Longmeadow (0-1)
Sci-Tech 7, Smith Vocational 4
Smith Vocational 000 013 0 — 4 6 3
Sci-Tech 140 002 x — 7 4 1
WP—Pena LP—Pike
Records: Sci-Tech (1-0) Smith Vocational (0-1)