Swampscott softball faces questions after loss in Eastern Regional debut

ALBANY, N.Y. – What to expect?That’s the question Swampscott manager Henry Wong found himself contemplating following his squad’s 6-0 loss to Maine in its opener of the Eastern Regional Little League Tournament on Saturday afternoon.Today, at 11 a.m., weather permitting, players, fans and coaches alike will finally get an answer when Swampscott gets back on the field against Connecticut after yesterday’s second pool play game against Vermont was rained out.This could all change. Tournament officials hope to have Swampscott make up the game with Vermont at 9 a.m. and then resume the regular schedule. But a decision was probably not due until this morning, as more rain was in the forecast for last night.”These are 12- and 13-year-old kids, so you never know what to expect,” said Wong, whose team suffered its first defeat since the district tournament started. “These kids don’t know what it’s like to lose, so it will be interesting. We didn’t play our usual game against Maine, but I have confidence that that this team can respond and will. The best thing about 12- and 13-year-olds kids is they have short-term memories.”Maybe it was the week-plus layoff between the end of the states and the start of regional play. Maybe it was the hot and humid conditions. Or maybe the lack of practice opportunities with the recent rain. Whatever it was, the local nine didn’t have it on day one.With ace pitcher Abby Chung (5 IP, 5 hits, 6 Ks, 8 BBs) experiencing some arm trouble that affected her control, Swampscott found itself in a big hole early.Maine scored the only run it would need in the bottom of the first inning, when Katie Daniels opened the game with a base hit and scored a hitter later on a double to left-center by winning pitcher Marissa O’Toole.Swampscott mounted its best threat of the game in the second, when Chung opened the inning with a single. Bridget Genoversa-Wong followed with a fielder’s choice that retired Chung. Genoversa-Wong advanced to third when Stephanie Collins’ ground ball was misplayed, putting runners on second and third.O’Toole bore down, though, and retired the next two hitters on a strikeout and a ground ball to end the inning.Maine added to its lead in the bottom of the frame, combining two hits with five walks and one Swampscott miscue to score four more runs. O’Toole had the big hit in the inning, a two-run double.”Abby’s arm was a bit sore, and we made a few mistakes behind her,” Wong said. “The first two innings, we really didn’t play the kind of softball we had to get here. Maine is a very, very good team. Having watched them win two games now, I think they’re the team to beat.”Maine won its second game Sunday, trouncing New Hampshire, 11-0.Maine added its final run in the fifth. O’Toole (6 IP, 4 hits, 7 Ks) was virtually unhittable after the second inning, retiring 15 of the final 17 hitters.Chung finished with two of the four hits.