Published: 4/12/2019 8:13:44 PM
Modified: 4/12/2019 8:13:34 PM
ORANGE — Three scoreless innings from Megan Rich along with a three-run bomb by Skylar Dodge highlighted the Mahar Regional softball team’s 25-2 win over South Hadley on Friday.
The game ended in the fifth inning due to the mercy rule.
The Senators (2-0) jumped on the Tigers early scoring 10 runs in the first inning. Rich only had to go three innings to get the win, striking out five.
The big lead helped Rich experiment in the circle.
“I got to play around with my pitches,” Rich said. “I threw a few curveballs and I did a few drops. I need to work on those.”
South Hadley pitching allowed 21 walks. When the Tigers did throw strikes, the Senators stood patiently in the batter’s box ready to hammer it.
Dodge’s homer to right field in the third inning made the score 20-0. It was Dodge’s 13th homer during her career at Mahar and first of the young season.
On the 3-0 pitch, coach Jerry Duguay gave Dodge the green light with runners at second and third.
“I try to watch how the pitchers are with the batters before me,” Dodge said. “When I get up to bat, I am more patient. If there are a few balls, I’ll stay in the box until a strike is pitched to me. Then I’ll be a little more eager to swing.”
Dodge had a walk, a double and the homer in three at-bats with six RBIs.
Dodge flashed some leather in the first inning, gloving a hard grounder at first base. After stepping on first, Dodge gunned down South Hadley’s Maddie Fontaine, who had started for home on the play.
Sarah Graeff had two hits with two RBIs.
In the third inning, Duguay subbed out several players. Hailie Meeker pitched the final two innings for Mahar, giving up two hits, two runs and two walks with a couple strikeouts.
Going into April vacation, with several team members taking off for school trips, getting some younger players some playing time was important.
“All three seniors will be gone,” Duguay said. “It will be challenging next week. It was nice to get some girls in the end there. But the chemistry is great. They all like each other. It’s a good start. We have to win the games we should and, hopefully, go from there.”
Lani DeDiego led off for Mahar in the first inning with a ground rule double to center field and later scored on a wild pitch.
DeDiego had a single and a double with four RBIs. Hannah Dupont also got in on the action at the plate for the Senators with three hits, including a double with three RBIs.
Jordyn Berry had three RBIs with a double in the third inning.