GRANBY – Backs against the wall in the top of the seventh inning, the Palmer softball threw everything it had at Granby in an attempt to make up a nine-run deficit on Wednesday.
The Rams weathered the storm against the visitors, securing a 19-18 victory thanks to a clutch strikeout from winning pitcher Madison Seaha. They also weathered a frigid wind that brought temperatures down throughout the contest, making it difficult to keep a hold of the ball, especially in the latter innings. Seaha stuck it out in the circle for all seven innings, registering four strikeouts to go with 11 walks.
“It’s tough when it’s this cold with the pitcher because it’s hard to get a handle on the ball,” Granby head coach Steven Goodhind said. “It’s tough to be consistent for seven innings.”
Granby was still able to secure the win with the Panthers hot on its heels, thanks in part to an infield timeout called by Goodhind during the seventh that seemingly calmed the defense and helped the home team refocus.
“Definitely the timeout (gave) us the time to reset and realize that we definitely need to get it together and that it’s cutting close,” Granby’s Lauren Parker said.
The Rams’ bats came to play, and they were active in every inning except the third, consistently keeping them within reach of the Panthers. It was Palmer that jumped out to a fast start, scoring eight runs in the first two innings to take an 8-2 advantage after the top of the second.
“(I liked) the girls taking their pitches, not being so jumpy at the plate and trying to jump all over something that’s not there… not swinging at a pitch that’s out of their comfort zone,” Goodhind said on his team’s offensive effort.
Granby responded with a strong effort in the bottom of the second, led by a triple from Sienna Hill and an inside-the-park home run from Parker. The Rams scored five to close the gap to 8-7, and after a scoreless third, exploded again in the fourth. The hosts knocked in five more runs to take their first lead of the contest, 12-8.
“It definitely boosted the team’s confidence and our energy. Usually once one person does a good deed, everyone gets hyped and then that carries throughout the game,” Hill said on her and Parker’s blasts in the second frame.
They built their lead up to 19-9 after a seven-run bottom of the fifth. By the end of the contest, Hill had four hits, Emma Klekotka went 4-for-4 and picked up a walk, and Parker went 3-for-5, including a home run and a ground-rule double. The trio of seniors were the first three hitters in the Rams lineup, and they set the tone for the team every time they strode to the plate.
The Rams as a whole have improved dramatically over the past year. Last season, Granby didn’t win a single contest and was run-ruled in 15 of the 17 games it played. This year, the club is hovering around .500 with a 3-4 record, and they have a senior-heavy roster with players like Hill to anchor them as they work on improving their game.
All in all, there are six seniors on this year’s squad: Hill, Seaha, Klekotka, Briana Sosa, Emily Frank and Claire Rondeau. Even when they graduate, the hope is that the program will continue to bring back more returners while also attracting new talent. Another big difference from last season? All but one player on this year’s roster is returning, a stark contrast to last year’s group which featured almost an entirely new crew.
“We are a very young team. We do have a significant amount of seniors in the group, but it’s a program – last year we had one returning softball player. So we have a lot of young talent on here,” Goodhind said. “It’s come together quite nicely. They can get frustrated from time to time, but all they need is just a little settle down, and it starts to click.”