ITEM PHOTO BY KATIE MORRISON
Keri Clougherty knocks home Wyoma’s only run with a double against Woburn on Tuesday.
By KATIE MORRISON
LYNN — The breaks and bounces didn’t go Wyoma’s way in the opening round of the state sectional softball all-star tournament, as Woburn grabbed a decisive, 11-1 victory at Wyoma’s home field on the edge of Lynn Woods Tuesday.
Wyoma will look to bounce back Thursday, as it hosts East Bridgewater.
Woburn’s Tiffany Bryant struck out nine of the 17 Wyoma batters she faced over five innings. Bryant wasn’t necessarily overpowering, but did more than enough to keep Wyoma batters off-balance, holding Wyoma to just one hit.
“She did mix up the speeds and held her composure well,” said Wyoma manager Jay Newhall. “We hit some balls right at them and they had some balls that fell in.”
Woburn got off to a hot start in the first. Grace Sgroi hit a leadoff single and swiped two bases, and Jenna Taylor knocked her home with a single. When Woburn got on base, its baserunners ran wild. Taylor stole second and third, and was off for home as soon as a pitch slipped past Wyoma catcher Molly Mannion for Woburn’s second run.
Wyoma pitcher Lily Newhall settled in to get a strikeout and ground out to escape any further damage.
Wyoma’s ran into some tough luck at the plate, and it started right in the first inning. Andrea Brazell lined a ball to right that was falling fast, but right fielder Gianna Malajian stretched to rob Brazell of a base hit.
Woburn added another run in the second on Sgroi’s sacrifice fly, bringing in Emily Venezi, who drew a leadoff walk. Woburn took a 4-0 lead in the third on Christine Negri’s RBI single.
Woburn didn’t make many mistakes in the field, but when it did, Wyoma took advantage. Kenzie McLaren popped up to the pitcher to start off the home half of the third, but Bryant couldn’t come up with it, allowing McLaren to reach safely. McLaren stole second, and Keri Clougherty made Woburn pay for its error with a double to center, bringing home McLaren for Wyoma’s only run of the game.
Bryant settled down and struck out the side, stranding Clougherty at third after she stole a base.
Though it looked as if Wyoma might be making a comeback, things quickly unraveled in the fourth. Two walks, two hits, four stolen bases and an error led to three runs for Woburn, and four more Woburn runners crossed the plate in the fifth. Wyoma couldn’t get anything going in the bottom of the fifth, and the mercy rule was invoked.
“You get the breaks when you come out and hustle, and we came out flat,” said Newhall. “It was a long weekend for everybody, so I get it. There were some fundamental things we missed tonight, and that was the difference. We didn’t have a chance to get any baserunning going, because you have to string some hits together.”
If Wyoma can beat East Bridgewater Thursday, it will play Saturday for a chance at taking part in the championship game Sunday.
“We win one, and we’re right back into it,” said Newhall. “We have to stay positive, we’ll try to have a good practice tomorrow.”
