Last year’s Division 2 state semifinalists, the Marblehead High softball team (17-4, 15th seed), took that first step to getting back there and hopefully beyond on Friday afternoon (May 30), when they defeated visiting Leominster (10-9, 18th seed) out of the Midland Wachusett League in the Round of 32 at the Veterans Middle School Field, 3-0. They will now play the winner of Sunday’s Hopkinton (17-3, second seed)/Shepherd Hill Regional (16-4, 31st seed) game in the Sweet 16.
For the record, the Magicians lost to Westfield in extra innings (eight) last year, 3-2. The Marblehead girls took a 2-1 extra innings lead in that state semifinal game, before the Bombers scored twice in the home half of the eighth inning to win it. But they then went on to lose to Walpole, 1-0 in the state title game. Coach Johnny Gold’s team wants to be the ones this year who will be playing in Amherst for the state championship in a couple of weeks.
Junior pitcher Tessa Francis scattered three hits, while striking out 11 Blue Devil batters to help secure the shutout win. “Our defense was strong all game long,” said Gold afterwards.
The Magicians scored twice in the second and once in the third to account for the offense in this game. Isabel Mortensen led the way with two hits, and her twin sister Ashley, Nora Mahan, Tessa Andriano and Tessa Francis also contributed to the offense with one single apiece.
