Stoughton High Softball Falls Victim to Near-Flawless Pitching Performance at OA

If you were going to beat the Oliver Ames softball team Thursday afternoon, you had to be almost perfect.

That’s because Tiger pitcher Elizabeth Batsinelas only gave up two hits, both in the first inning, and didn’t allow a base runner the rest of the way as the Tigers defeated Stoughton 4-0 in Easton.

The Black Knights' leadoff hitter Colleen Flaherty and shortstop Megan Flaherty both had singles, but Batsinelas, a junior, then retired 19 straight batters, finishing with nine strikeouts and no walks.

“Her fastball is great and her crossover curveball on the outside corner is her bread and butter pitch,” OA head coach Bob Huckabee said.

“She can throw that pitch in her sleep. If you’re going to throw that pitch away and then bust them with a maybe a 56, 57 mile-an-hour fastball inside on the hands, then you are going to be OK. If you get lucky and hit a ground ball, we’re probably going catch it."

OA (3-1) also didn’t make an error in the game and that drew the attention of Stoughton High head coach Janet Sullivan.

“Their infield is as good as I’ve seen,” she said. “They have good, tight defense and their pitcher did a nice job today.”

This is the second consecutive game Stoughton has run into a near-flawless pitching performance from the opposition. Franklin pitcher Elizabeth Criscione tossed a shut out, striking out nine, and allowing just five base runners in at home.

On Thursday, OA got the only runs they would need in the first inning. Left fielder Sandy Anton led off the game with an infield single before stealing second base. From there, she raced home on a base hit to left field by shortstop Alexis Duffy-Protentis for a 1-0 lead. The shortstop then scored the second run on a single by catcher Nicole LeBlanc.

Krystina Lincoln reached on an infield hit and then was sacrificed to second by second baseman Ariana Scurti. Anton followed with a ball to the outfield that was misplayed, allowing the third run to score.

Scuriti doubled in third baseman Jackie Tremblay for the fourth run in the fourth inning.

Stoughton received another solid pitching effort from Jess Olans, who went five innings before giving way to Emily Cramer.

“They get better every game,” Sullivan said about her team. “My pitcher [Olans] and catcher [Molly Zuk] did a great job today. We just have to get the bats going.”

In the seventh inning, Batsinelas finished with a bang, striking out the side to put an exclamation point on the victory.

“She puts in the time and the effort,” said Huckabee of his pitcher. “It’s paying big dividends for her. I told her I’m never disappointed when she is in the circle. She always goes out and competes and does a nice job.”

Stoughton looks to rebound, traveling to Attleboro on Friday afternoon. First pitch is scheduled for 3:30 p.m.