EASTHAMPTON — The Easthampton softball team brought the muscle to Wilby Field on Friday afternoon, as two first-inning home runs powered the Eagles to a 9-1 win over Pioneer Valley Regional on the grounds of sunny Nonotuck Park.
Second year coach Joe Roy liked what he saw from the team. The mood of the squad is changing for the better.
“It’s a different atmosphere for us,” Roy said. “This can be done. We can play at an elite level. Our mantra is supporting positive energy and being competitive. For us to advance in tournament or anything like that we have to be competitive.”
Maddy Urban got things going with a two-run homer for the Eagles (3-3). Urban’s shot cleared the fence in centerfield. Two hitters later, Noey Ryan clobbered another two-run homer for the home team. Ryan went toward right center.
“I think it had a good impact on the team,” Ryan said. “It got the energy up a lot.”
Urban hadn’t hit a home run since her freshman season.
“I’ve been in a slump, but I am hoping to get better again,” Urban said. “It felt really good because I wanted us to progress as a team because it felt for a while like we were stuck.”
The four-run cushion was more than enough for Easthampton’s starting pitcher Summer Routhier. In a complete game, Routhier gave up five hits and had 13 strikeouts. For good measure, Routhier struck out the side in the top of the seventh inning to finish the game.
“It felt really, really good,” Routhier said. “If we are up, I know I have to get these strikeouts. Everyone just wants to get out of the game. So, I try my best usually in the last inning.
The early offense helped Routhier, especially with Easthampton in a bit of a slump. Routhier had a nice day at the plate going 4-for-4.
“It really got us hyped up,” Routhier said. “Our bats aren’t usually the best but to see that gave us a whole lot of energy to carry through into the rest of the game. Usually do well at both. Batting I usually just get on base. I am not a power hitter. I’ve been getting on base pretty well.”
The Panthers (1-3) could not get much going offensively. Maggie Tsipenyuk went 2-for-3 with a couple singles. Laylah Goulston had a bunt single and stole a couple bases.
Pioneer scored in the top of the third inning. Lucianne Burnap singled and stole a base to get to second before an RBI double by Amy VanDoren. Jaelyn Boliski took the loss in the circle but did well recovering from the first inning. The Panthers did not give up another run until the fifth inning. Boliski finished with six strikeouts.
“She (Boliski) had a couple good middle innings,” Pioneer coach Mark Fortier said. “Got her pitches under control. Made a good comeback there. They beat us. They put a few hits together consecutively. Once they got out, they compounded the hits.”
Ryan tripled in the bottom of the fifth inning, giving Easthampton a 5-1 lead. Another run scored on a wild pitch. The Eagles scored four more times in the bottom of the sixth inning. Burnap relieved Boliski and got a strikeout and a ground out to get the Panthers out of the inning.
Ryan finished 2-for-2 with two walks and three RBI for the Eagles.
Tantasqua 2, Hampshire 1 — A seventh-inning walk-off home run handed the Raiders their first loss of the season.
Rachael Hickox was Hampshire’s only hitter with multiple base knocks. In the circle, Ryanne Dubay took the loss, allowing a pair of homers while striking out seven in 6 1/3 innings.
Smith Academy 23, Commerce 3 — The Falcons steamrolled the Raiders, off the backs of impressive outings from pitcher Quinn Carlson and batter Millie Barszcz.
Carlson fanned nine while Barszcz bashed two home runs and four RBIs.
Smith Voc 22, Gateway 2 — The Vikings scored 16 runs in the second inning to plow past the Gators.
Grace Sampson was spectacular, belting a home run and totaling a team-high five RBIs, plus tossed all five innings on the mound and allowed just two hits.
Willow Hicks also homered for Smith Voc.
Erica Madru and Rylan McCaul posted Gateway’s hits.
Chicopee 5, Granby 2 — The Rams dropped their first contest of the season in the defeat to the Pacers.
Rowan Cook (2-for-3) led Granby at the plate.
Girls lacrosse
Smith Voc 10, Central 7 — It was a memorable game for the Vikings, who picked up their first ever win as a varsity program and saw junior captain Erin Miller reach 50 career points.
Pope Francis 16, Granby 9 — The Cardinals pulled away in the second half to down the Rams in a non-league tilt.
Pope Francis led 9-4 at halftime.
Mylin Laliberte and Brenna Moreno each potted four goals for Granby.
Boys lacrosse
Amherst 10, South Hadley 5 — Sawyer Ferro and Tri Nguyen propelled the Hurricanes past the Tigers.
Ferro scored six goals while Nguyen dished out six assists and added a goal.
Jason Kim made nine saves in between the pipes for Amherst.
Baseball
Gateway 10, Sci-Tech 0 — Jacob Maynard threw gas from the bump in the Gators’ victory, striking out 12. Maynard is up to 33 strikeouts in three starts.
Girls tennis
Amherst 3, East Longmeadow 2 — The ‘Canes responded with a win after a tough first match earlier in the week.
Emma Learned-Miller (6-1, 7-5) and Mahima Ganesan (6-3, 6-4) won in first and second singles for Amherst, before Cynthia Tian and Marin Carylon won in first doubles (6-4, 6-1) to clinch the match for the Hurricanes.
Late Thursday Results
Baseball
Northampton 7, Easthampton 2 — The Blue Devils beat the Eagles with a strong game from the mound from Charlie Agostino-Pierce.
Agostino-Pierce struck out seven and walked three in 6 2/3 innings.
Boys tennis
Longmeadow 4, PVCICS 1 — Derek Ye won in second singles as the Dragons’ only point of the contest. Scores favored Ye 6-4, 7-6 (7-3).
Girls tennis
Minnechaug 5, Belchertown 0 — The Orioles remain winless following their shutout against the Falcons.
