LYNN — You could say three games in as many days isn’t easy – especially when a top program from Division 1 makes its way to Breed Middle School.
St. Mary’s softball team (11-4; No. 2 in D3) played host to Bishop Feehan (10-9; No. 11 in D1) Wednesday afternoon, falling 6-1 in a scorcher.
The Shamrocks got off to a flying start, scoring three runs in the first inning. Feehan had runners on first and second before a single up the middle brought in the visitors’ first run.
Next thing you know, it was 3-0 after another Shamrock single.
But St. Mary’s didn’t take long to respond. Brooke Moloney reached first on a dropped third strike before Michaela Walker laid down a sacrifice bunt to move Moloney to second.
In the blink of an eye, Gabby Marichal brought Moloney home with an RBI single to right field to cut the lead to two (3-1).
Marichal reached third base after a steal and passed ball, but with only one out, the Spartans left her stranded on a lonely island.
“I wish we got a few more hits in the first inning when we had runners on,” said St. Mary’s coach Colleen Newbury.
The next few innings saw a good-old-fashioned pitchers’ duel with St. Mary’s freshman Aliza Crean-Oviedo (6 K) going toe-to-toe with Feehan upperclassman Mylee Ramer.
“They’re a really good team with a really good pitcher. They hit the ball well and do what they’re supposed to do,” Newbury said. “I was just hoping we would do more of what we’re good at. The third game in a row is tough sometimes.”
Newbury liked what she saw from her ace.
“She was fantastic. There was only one mispitch that ended up over the fence, but her ball is moving great,” Newbury said. “We just have to make a few more plays behind her. She’s a rock though. Everyone is behind her and rallies behind her.”
Luck or not, the Shamrocks scored two runs in the top of the sixth to put the game out of reach.
Despite the loss, there were plenty of highlights from the Spartans, including multiple catches and big-time throws from Moloney in center field.
“Brooke was busy today. You want them (outfielders) to be busy because, sometimes, the outfield just sits there the entire game as the shortstop and third basemen are making all the plays,” Newbury said. “They had to work hard today, which was good. We have a solid lineup up the middle with Aliza, Michaela Walker, Roma (Braid), and Brooke. We’re pretty fortunate.”
That said, this isn’t Newbury’s first rodeo. She prefers playing great teams, especially late in the season in preparation for the state tournament.
“It’s super beneficial to be playing good teams now,” Newbury said. “They put pressure on us defensively which is good for us to practice. … There were a few defensive mistakes, but nothing that hurt us too much.”
With three more games in the regular season, Newbury wants to see her younger players step up before the postseason.
“I just want to get the younger kids ready. They have to be ready to hit, to run. They just need to be ready to help out where they can,” she said. “We don’t want them being deer in the headlights if they’re called upon in the tournament. Otherwise, we’re just going to rehydrate and see where the seedings place us.”
St. Mary’s travels to face Cardinal Spellman for an 11 a.m. game on Friday.
