ORANGE — When you get pitching performances like the kind the Pioneer baseball team has received this season, it’s easy to see why the Panthers still hasn’t lost a game. 

Hugh Cyhowski, Ethan Quinn, Ian Simpson and Ben Werner — the top four in the Panthers rotation — entered Tuesday’s contest against Mahar having allowed a combined five total runs on the season. 

Simpson was on the hill against the Sens and made sure that number stayed right where it was, allowing just three hits while striking out 11 as Pioneer earned a 4-0 Bi-County North victory. 

“Ian Simpson with another shutout for us,” Panthers coach Kevin Luippold said. “When you have four guys who have given up a total of five runs all year, it’s a great thing to have. To see Ian shut them down in our last away game of the regular season was nice.”

Pioneer (15-0) has a chance to end its regular season with an unblemished record if it can earn a win against Turners Falls on Wednesday.

“We’re looking to go against Turners with the possibility of staying undefeated,” Luippold said. “It’s a nice thing to have for the kids. Not everybody has a chance to go undefeated in a high school sport.” 

Mahar (8-8) closes out its regular season on Wednesday against Smith Academy before playing in two non-tournament games. It’ll likely need to win two of those three contests to clinch a spot in the MIAA Div. 5 state tournament. 

“We have three left and we know we need to win two of them,” Senators coach Dan Guertin said. “We needed a timely hit today. When you don’t get them you get shut out.” 

The Panthers opened up the scoring in the third. Luc Belhumeur was hit by a pitch, moved to second on a Ben Werner bunt and made it home after Alex McClelland drilled a double to right field to give Pioneer a 1-0 lead. 

Braeden Tsipenyuk added to the Panthers lead in the fifth. The catcher got on with a single, moved to second on an errant throw and took third following a Quinn groundout. While on third, Tsipenyuk timed out when Mahar threw the ball back to pitcher Nate Danielson and was able to steal home for a 2-0 lead. 

In the sixth Peter Loud got things going with a single for Pioneer. Loud stole second and was brought home off a single from Belhumeur. Belhumeur stole second, moved to third on a base hit from Werner and reached home on a sacrifice fly to center off the bat of McClelland to give the Panthers a 4-0 lead. 

Mahar had a chance to get back in the game in the seventh. Jayden Delgado was hit by a pitch before Milo Troisi and Morgan Softic walked to load the bases with two outs, but Simpson got a strikeout to get out of the jam and preserve the shutout. 

Sam Connors, Delgado and Matt Vitello had the three Senator hits in the loss. For Pioneer, Hugh Cyhowski knocked three hits including a double while Simpson also doubled in the victory. 

Softball

Westfield 5, Greenfield 0 – In the continuation of a game suspended due to rain earlier this season, the visiting Green Wave were unable to solve Westfield ace Shea Hurley in a 5-0 independent loss on Tuesday.

Westfield led 1-0 in the third inning when the game was called earlier this month, but the host Bombers scored four times in the resumption on Tuesday. Hurley struck out 14 in seven innings, walking two and allowing four hits.

Carly Blanchard was 2-for-3 with a double to pace Greenfield’s offense, while Ellis Benitez and Amber Bergeron also had hits. Brielle Widelo handled the pitching duties over the final four innings, striking out two and walking one while allowing seven hits.

“Very proud of Brielle who hasn’t pitched in two years,” Greenfield coach John Hickey lauded. 

Pioneer 18, Mahar 6 — Kelly Baird had a monster game for the Panthers, knocking a home run, two triples and a single that combined to drive in seven runs and lift the Panthers to a Franklin County League East win over the Senators in Northfield on Tuesday. 

Allie Clary tripled and smashed two singles, Laylah Goulston cracked a double and two singles while Avery Johnson, Kayla Gauthier, Natalie Johnson, Emma Peterson and Cobi Tyminski each had a hit and an RBI. Brayleigh Burgh got the win in the circle, striking out 11 while adding a single and three RBIs at the plate. 

Girls tennis

Turners 4, Renaissance 1 — The Thunder swept singles and earned a win in No. 2 doubles to defeat Renaissance on Tuesday in Turners. 

Steph Peterson walked away with a 6-1, 6-0 win in No. 1 singles, Maria Labelle earned a 6-3, 6-1 victory in No. 2 singles while Olivia Walbach fought for a 6-2, 6-7, 6-2 win in No. 3 singles for Turners. Maddy Lilly and Emma Harmon came away with a 6-3, 4-6, 6-4 triumph in No. 2 doubles for the Thunder. 

Late Monday results

Baseball

Turners 11, Mohawk Trail 1 — Dylan Shinall went the distance for the Thunder, striking out nine and allowing ju st four hits as Turners pulled away with a Bi-County League North win over the Warriors in Buckland. 

Levin Prondecki knocked two hits, one a triple, and drove in two runs for the Thunder. Joey Mosca singled and knocked in three runs while Alex Quezada hit safely in the win. 

Logan Moore, Oliver Johnson, Weston Den Ouden and Ty Griswold each hit safely for Mohawk Trail. 

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