Sports

Stoughton High Softball Has Optimistic Second Half Outlook

The Stoughton High Softball team reached the midpoint of its 18-game regular season Monday.

After keeping it close with visiting King Philip through the first four innings of Monday afternoon's game, always-tough KP opened things up in the fifth inning, and came away with a 16-1 win.

Jordan Angelos had a single, was hit by a pitch, scored Stoughton's lone run, and also played a strong game defensively. Catcher Payton Pizzano had a strong game throwing out three KP baserunners attempting to steal and tagging out a runner at the plate. 

Monday's game against KP marked the midpoint of the 18-game regular season for the Stoughton High softball team.

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Stoughton sits at 3-6 through nine games, with nine games to go in the regular season.

The team will need a strong second half to reach the .500 mark (or finish second in the Hockomock League's Davenport Division) and reach the postseason for the third straight year. 

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Still, Stoughton coach Janet Sullivan and senior captains Angelos, Megan Flaherty, and Michelle Bisbee are optimistic going forward.

After this week, which ends with gams against Mansfield and North Attleboro, Stoughton will have made it through the toughest part of its schedule. 

"Today was a tough day," Sullivan said following the KP game. "We played a very good team and we played them tight for the first 4 innings, but that fifth inning, they just started getting their bat on the ball. A combination of some poor defense and some great hitting, just blew this game apart. 

"Up until that inning I thought we were playing extremely well, and I think that's been indicative of the improvement the team has made through the first half."

MIDSEASON REPORT

Results:

1.) Tues - 4/2 Stoughton @ Attleboro, L 10-9          
2.) Thurs - 4/4  Stoughton vs. Franklin, L 4-3      
3.) Mon - 4/8  Stoughton @ Taunton, L 12-1         
4.) Wed - 4/10   Stoughton vs. Sharon, W 8-0        
5.) Wed - 4/17  Stoughton vs. Foxboro, W 5-4     
6.) Mon – 4/22 Stoughton vs. Oliver Ames, L 7-2         
7.) Wed - 4/24  Stoughton @ Milford, L 15-0        
8.) Fri - 4/26  Stoughton @ Canton, W 10-5            
9.) Mon - 4/29 Stoughton vs. King Philip, L 16-1   

Remaining Schedule:

10.) Wed - 5/1 Stoughton @ Mansfield        
11.) Fri - 5/3  Stoughton vs. North Attleboro       
12.) Mon - 5/6  Stoughton @ Sharon        
13.) Wed - 5/8 Stoughton @ Foxboro
14.) Thu - 5/9 Stoughton @ Quincy  
15.) Mon - 5/13 Stoughton @ Oliver Ames    
16.) Wed - 5/15 Stoughton vs. Milford        
17.) Fri - 5/17 Stoughton vs. Quincy        
18.) Mon - 5/20 Stoughton vs.  Canton        

Outlook

Stoughton's second half schedule is more favorable than its first-half slate of games. Although at 3-6, there is not much margin for error in terms of having a slip-up down the stretch, if Stoughton is to make a push for the postseason.  

"We play all the Davenport teams again and Quincy twice so those should be really competitive games for us," Flaherty said.

"I think we can come back. It will be tough, but we've progressed throughout the [season]. We know what we've done wrong and what we need to work on," Angelos said.

One thing Bisbee feels Stoughton has improved upon is execution on offense.

"Our offense is doing way better than it was in the beginning of the year," she said. 

"We've faced a lot of the powerhouses and we've come away learning a lot and getting some good experience," Sullivan added. "I feel like in the second half of the season we can improve a little bit but I'm optimistic we can put together a few more wins."


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