Stoughton High Softball Loses to OA, But Keeps Tournament Hopes Alive

Entering the final two weeks of the season, the Stoughton High softball team is attempting to qualify for a postseason berth. To accomplish this feat the Black Knights need to finish with an overall record of at least .500 or finish first or second in the Davenport Division of the Hockomock League.

With the adverse weather conditions, Stoughton has tried all week to play a home game against , the first place team in the Davenport Division. Stoughton got a break earlier in the week, when the game was called with OA leading 2-0, one out shy of the game being official.

Oliver Ames returned to Stoughton on Thursday afternoon, and despite more rain, took a 6-2 victory over Stoughton, in a rain-shortened contest called in the sixth inning, but ruled an official game.

The defeat drops Stoughton to 7-9 and now forces the Black Knights to win three of its last four games to qualify for the postseason. Stoughton is battling Sharon for second place in the Davenport Division, and is one game back of the Eagles setting up the next game on the schedule as a big one, on Saturday morning, when the Black Knights host Sharon.

Meanwhile, Oliver Ames, now 11-5, is one win away from wrapping up the Davenport Division and will travel to North Attleboro, on Friday, to try to avenge an extra inning 1-0 loss, earlier this season.

After the Sharon game, Stoughton finishes the regular season with Canton and non-league foe Norton, two teams that Stoughton has already defeated, before the season-finale with a crossover game against the Kelly-Rex divisional (Hockomock League) opponent that finishes in the same position in the standings as Stoughton.

Against Oliver Ames, Stoughton had great defense by the outfield (five putouts) and only had one error in sloppy weather conditions.

The Black Knights were only retired in order in the first inning and had runners in scoring position in innings two through six. Stoughton’s best opportunity came in the fifth inning with bases loaded and only one out, but the Black Knights failed to score.

“We kept battling and gave ourselves a chance to win, but we needed more timely hitting and we didn’t get it,” said Stoughton coach Janet Sullivan. “We need three wins in our final four games to get into the (postseason) tournament and we can get it done.”

Oliver Ames began the scoring with two runs in the second inning off Stoughton pitcher Jess Olans. Jackie Healy led off with a double, followed by a single from Nicole Romero, leaving runners at the corners. Healy scored on an infield out and Romero scored on an error to give the Tigers a 2-0 lead.

OA scored another run in the third inning. Nicole Leblanc, who reached base all four times at bat, led off with a triple and then scored on a sacrifice fly by Alexis Duffy-Protentis.

That would be all that OA pitcher Elizabeth Batsinelas would need on her way to allowing only four hits and striking out ten Stoughton batters.

“Our offense played well and we didn’t strikeout once, allowing us to get the ball in play on every at bat in bad weather conditions, and that made it very tough on Stoughton,” said Oliver Ames coach Bob Huckabee.

“Batsinelas had runners on base all game, but remained focused in bad conditions and was able to get out of every inning up to the sixth, and we backed her up with solid defense.”

OA scored three runs in the fifth inning. Ariana Scurti (three RBIs) hit a double scoring two runs and then scored on a single by Kristina Lincoln, to give the Tigers a 6-0 lead.

Stoughton attempted a comeback, scoring a run in both the fifth and sixth innings. Colleen Flaherty reached base on a two-out bunt single, stole second, and scored on an RBI single by Jordan Angelos. The Black Knights then began another two-out rally in the sixth, on a single by Megan Guerard, who then stole second and advanced to third on a wild pitch and then scored on another wild pitch.

Still, with two outs and a runner at second base, the umpires called the game after the continuing rain become more intense.

Now, Stoughton has its back to the wall, as it enters the final four games of the regular season, needing three wins to have a chance to play into June.