SWAMPSCOTT — When it’s cold and windy, you could say it’s hard enough to get a base hit. Throw Tessa Francis into the mix, and it’s nearly impossible.
Marblehead’s softball team took down traditional archrival Swampscott, 4-1, Wednesday behind Francis’ 16 strikeouts.
“Tessa threw an incredible game. We didn’t really hit the ball well, but I’m not blaming the kids. I think it’s impossible in this weather,” said Marblehead Coach Johnny Gold. “We stung some balls, but they were right at them or got caught in the wind. It was terrible out there.”
The Magicians started hot, scoring two runs in the first inning – both by stealing home on passed balls. Isabel Mortensen and Haley Schmitt showed off their speed when they were on third base, timing their runs to perfection for a 2-0 cushion.
Swampscott got a run back in the bottom of the first thanks to an RBI single from Maddie Lilley.
“Maddie Lilley is always good for a hit. She keeps her head in there and finds contact,” said Swampscott Coach Brittany Coppinger. “She doesn’t really get down on herself and is always there to try and pick everybody up when we need her. That’s our No. 4 (hitter) and she steps up all the time.”
In the second inning, once again, the Magicians used their speed to steal home. This time, Ashley Mortensen was the baserunner who made it 3-1.
“That’s what we have. We have speed and try to use it,” Gold said. “I don’t know how they gutted this win out with the weather.”
After the second inning, it was a pitchers’ duel between Francis and Swampscott’s Hayden Haskell, who went the distance and punched out six Magicians.
“Hayden pitched a beautiful game – she throws a lot and works really hard,” Coppinger said. “She works on all of her pitches and she really likes to outsmart the hitter.”
The Magicians tacked on another run in the fifth inning thanks to an RBI sacrifice hit from Schmitt to score Nora Mahan. Mahan went 2-for-3 with a double and a run scored, drawing praise from Gold.
“Nora played great. She also made a great catch in left field,” Gold said. “She’s a really quick athlete. She made great plays today.”
When the game got to the bottom of the seventh, Francis closed it out and struck out the side.
“She’s very special. I’ve seen her pitch a lot. I thought this was one of her best games because of the conditions,” Gold said. “I don’t know how she did it all game. We couldn’t throw a lot of off-speed pitches because of the feel. We threw a lot of fastballs. She’s very special and she was incredible today.”
Gold praised a “much-improved” Swampscott side after the match.
“They did a very nice job; their catcher did a great job,” he said.
When asked how she felt her team played, Coppinger was filled with positivity.
“I think the kids played pretty well besides not being able to hit the ball. Their defense was solid today and substantially better than it has been in the past – especially against Marblehead,” Coppinger said. “I think we’re looking great. I think we are a team that is making heads-up plays and they’re moving the runners and doing all the things right. The pitching is on and they have a good shot to make whatever they want it to be this year.”
Swampscott’s next game is Friday when it hosts Winthrop at 4:30 p.m. The Magicians suit up the same day when they welcome Peabody at 4 p.m.
