The King Philip softball team got out to another strong start, this time in the Division 1 EMass final against Lexington Tuesday. The Warriors scored seven runs in the first three innings en route to a 7-0 win and a trip to the state championship.
King Philip will face the winner of Wednesday’s game between Agawam and Doherty on Saturday at Worcester State.
“These kids are flying high,’’ King Philip coach Norm Beauchemin said. “They know they can do it and they want it bad and they’re willing to work for it.’’
King Philip scored in the first before exploding for three runs in both the second and third innings. Brooke Taute reached on a slap bunt to lead off the second inning. Kali Magane then laid down a bunt. The throw went over the first baseman and rolled into deep right field. Both Taute and Magane scored on the overthrow, putting the Warriors up, 3-0. Meghan Gorman then hit a single down the third-base line and scored on a double by Christa Wagner to put King Philip up, 4-0.
The runs kept coming in the third. Caeli Bench singled and advanced on a bunt by Taute to put runners on first and second. Magane then smacked a two-run triple to extend the lead to 6-0.
Magane scored on a wild pitch to give King Philip a 7-0 lead. She went 3 for 3 with two RBIs.
“[Magane’s] stroking the ball. This is the way she used to hit,’’ Beauchemin said. “She finally figured out what she was doing wrong . . . She’s back in the groove. I don’t think anyone wants it more than her.’’
Magane also pitched a complete game, striking out nine and scattering six hits. According to Magane, concentrating on the ultimate goal of a championship helps her stay focused.
“You can see the end from here,’’ Magane said. “[I’m] just trying to concentrate on the end goal and try to do the best for the team.’’
King Philip has been a disciplined team all tournament and hasn’t made costly mistakes. Beauchemin is confident that the stellar play will continue into the championship game.
“These girls are not going to beat themselves,’’ Beauchemin said. “You’re going to have to beat us. We’re playing so well right now.’’
Division 2
Tewksbury 5, Abington 1 — Tewksbury coach Leo DiRocco has been coaching high school sports since 1960. For the past 27 years he has coached the Redmen softball team. He has compiled numerous winning seasons, but has never gotten his squad to the state final. DiRocco’s long wait ended as Tewksbury defeated Abington in the Division 2 state semifinal at Taunton High School.
The Redmen advance to the state championship game Saturday at Worcester State University.
Tewksbury (22-3) combined solid pitching with timely hitting, scoring all five of its runs after two outs. The Redmen also took advantage of three Abington errors in a three-run fifth inning.
“This was a defensive loss and our [sophomore] pitcher Tori Young deserved a better fate,’’ said Abington coach Ernie Ortega. “We’ve only gone this far twice and we have a very young team [five sophomores and two freshman starters] so hopefully we will be back here next year.’’
Adrianna Favreau, a junior pitcher for Tewksbury, silenced the powerful Abington bats, retiring the final 16 of 17 Green Wave hitters over the last five innings. Favreau also went 3 for 3 with three singles, two RBIs, and two runs to lead the offense.
Both teams scored a run in the first inning. Abington (22-5) got an RBI single by Jenna McDonough scoring Caitlin Murphy to give the Green Wave their only lead. Tewksbury came right back to tie the score. Teagan Trant (three RBIs) hit a double to left field scoring Favreau to even the game, 1-1.
Favreau got out of a bases loaded jam in the second inning and then cruised the rest of the way. The Redmen scored the eventual winning run in the third inning on an Abington error, a sacrifice bunt and an RBI single by Favreau. Tewksbury then put the game away with a three runs in the fifth inning on four hits and the aid of three miscues by Abington. Another RBI by Favreau and a single by Trant that drove in two produced the final 5-1 margin.
“In our first game of the tournament, we got lucky when we were down to our last strike and tied the game on a balk and eventually won in extra innings,’’ said DiRocco. “Today instead of luck we took advantage of our opportunities, played loose and with confidence.’’
Division 3
Austin Prep 3, Greater New Bedford 1 — The Cougars leaned on a pair of underclassmen to win the EMass Final at Martin Field and punch their ticket to the program’s first state final appearance.
Austin Prep eighth grader Lauren Sablone was the hero for the second consecutive game. After knocking in the winning run Sunday against St. Mary’s, the poised 14-year-old blasted a two-run triple to center field in the second inning to give Austin Prep a 2-1 lead it wouldn’t relinquish.
Sablone finished with a game-high three hits, also scoring on a sacrifice fly by senior Caty Flagg in the second inning to push Austin Prep’s lead to 3-1.
“Again!’’ Austin Prep coach Frank Sorrenti shouted while praising Sablone’s clutch hitting. “An eighth grader. So we got four more years of that and I’m happy about it.’’
Austin Prep sophomore ace Logan MacDonald was just as impressive from the circle, allowing just four hits (none for extra bases) and fanning five batters in seven innings. Greater New Bedford’s only run came unearned in the first inning on two fielding errors.
After that hiccup, MacDonald allowed just two Bears’ runners to reach scoring position. She got ahead in a majority of pitch counts and retired six of the last seven batters to shut the door on any hopes of a rally by Greater New Bedford.
“She is unflappable,’’ Sorrenti said of MacDonald. “You cannot rattle her or throw her off her game. When she’s on her game, it’s hard to hit.’’
Austin Prep’s scrappy lineup frustrated Bears junior starter Kayla DeMedeiros (three runs, seven hits, two walks in six innings). The Cougars placed a runner in scoring position and registered at least one hit in five of six innings. They left 10 runners stranded with eight in scoring position and struck out just twice, forcing the Bears into a tough fielding night (four errors).
“We’re always comfortable with a lead with our pitching and our defense,’’ Sorrenti added.
Sorrenti and his young club will look to clinch the program’s first Division 3 state championship against Turner Falls at Worcester State on Saturday.
“We want to leave a legacy and get our name up on that banner if we can do it,’’ said Sorrenti. “The girls took it to heart and they’re running with it.’’
Globe correspondents Eric Shulman and Joseph Saade contributed to this report
