It was a season that will long be remembered by all those who support Marblehead High softball. It was a team that made history in 2024 by compiling the most wins in a single season throughout the history of the program with 21, and that’s while dealing with adversity, even before playing a game.
The Magicians first lost their co-captain Ila Bumagin, who tore her ACL while skiing in March, for the season. Weeks later and just hours before the first game of the season against host Reading on April 8, they learned their assistant coach Todd Norman passed away suddenly. Instead of postponing the game, they wanted to play it for Todd. They told coach Johnny Gold that they were dedicating the season to Norman, and wanted to play the Reading game as scheduled. The Magicians won the game, 9-3, and it was just the beginning of a season nobody will ever forget.
The Marblehead girls lost just five times in three months, including Tuesday’s extra innings (eight) heartbreaker to the Westfield Bombers (20-3, fourth seed) in a Division 2 state semifinal game at Worcester State University, 3-2.
Sophomore pitcher Tessa Francis was matching her Westfield counterpart Shea Hurley strike for strike. It was scoreless until the third, when junior all-star catcher Luka Bornhorst singled home Nora Mahan, who also singled to begin the frame.
But the Bombers tied up the proceedings right away on an RBI single by Moja Premmy in the home half of the third.
The Magicians had chances to score in the fourth, fifth and sixth innings, but to no avail. But in the eighth, Hailey Schmitt ignited what should have been the game-winning rally with a two-out single. She immediately stole second and third, before coming home on a clutch single by Tessa Andriano.
Things were looking good for the Magicians. They were just one strike away from advancing to the Division 2 state title game in Amherst on Saturday. But it wasn’t meant to be. With a couple of Westfield runners on, the Bombers ended up winning the game on a two-run double.
Only one team can win a state championship, but that doesn’t diminish Marblehead’s grit and determination that turned a real-life loss into a breakthrough season for the program. With seven sophomores and a superior junior catcher returning next spring to lead the team, there’s no doubt they should be back in contention for the ultimate prize in Division 2.
