LYNNFIELD — The Lynnfield softball team didn’t get the bats going or have its sharpest day in the field, which spelled disaster in a 12-0 loss to a strong North Reading team at home Thursday.
The Pioneers ran into a great pitcher in North Reading’s Shea Hanson and any time they did make solid contact the Hornets defense was there to clean it up.
“You’re talking about one of the best teams in the league and their pitcher is good,” Lynnfield coach Peter Marinelli said. “There’s no doubt about that. I told my kids to go up there and take your three cuts. If you miss all three — fine, if you make contact — fine, just do the best you can. When you’re playing against good teams that’s all you can do. You never know what can happen if you just get your bat on the ball.”
Chloe Shapleigh, who laid down a bunt single in the first, and Ava Gamache (infield single) had the only two hits for the Pioneers on the day.
Freshman Sophia Brown pitched all seven innings for Lynnfield, and allowed 13 hits and hit two batters with a pair of strikeouts.
“(Thursday), defensively we just really looked like we were out of it,” Marinelli said. “I honestly believe our pitcher pitched a good game. I know they scored 12 runs and that doesn’t sound right, but she did. There were plenty of times where, if we made our defensive plays, I don’t think they should’ve gotten more than five runs. But I give (North Reading) the benefit of the doubt because that’s a good team.”
But between missed cutoff throws and some other mental miscues, the Pioneers gave up far too many extra bases to back up Brown’s performance.
“All year long we talk to the kids about communicating in the field,” Marinelli said. “We got none of that (Thursday). That’s what has to happen. You have to communicate so people don’t get hurt. At times we look outstanding and other times we look like we’re not sure what we’re doing.”
The Hornets pushed across a run early in the first inning on a passed ball, but a strikeout by Brown got Lynnfield out of any more trouble.
North Reading added three more in the next two innings thanks to a pair of singles, a sacrifice fly and a fielder’s choice to go ahead 4-0.
It seemed like Lynnfield had settled down with a clean fourth inning, but mistakes piled up in the fifth and the Hornets tacked on four more runs to run away with things and stretch the lead to 8-0.
Lynnfield batters struck out six times in the final three innings, while North Reading had no problem putting the bat on the ball. The Hornets added runs in the sixth and seventh to cap off the 12-0 win.
“We’re trying to get them to think before the pitch is thrown — if the balls hit them in the ground or the air what they’ll do with it,” Marinelli said. “Being a young team is obviously part of the problem but they don’t seem to be preparing mentally.”
The Pioneers (7-5) will look to end the regular season with a win for their two seniors — Chloe Shapleigh and Reilly Ganter — on Senior Day Wednesday (3:45) at home against Pentucket.
