Stoughton High Softball Team Gets Off to Quick Start, But Can't Hold Lead Against Quincy

The Stoughton High softball team jumped out to a quick 3-0 lead in the first inning of the season opener against Quincy, but the Presidents scored five unanswered runs to hand Stoughton a 5-3 defeat Wednesday afternoon at home.

The game was rescheduled from Tuesday, after a rainout, and now Stoughton must open the season with back-to-back games, travelng to Foxborough for Thursday afternoon’s Hockomock League opener against the Warriors.

All nine starters in the opening day lineup return from last season’s squad, including senior tri-captains; pitcher Jess Olans, catcher Molly Zuk and centerfielder Colleen Flaherty, who are among five seniors leading a young, but experienced team.

Stoughton (0-1) has had a rough three years, including a 4-16 season in 2010, but before that qualified for 16 of 18 postseason tournaments, while capturing eight Hockomock League titles, all under the guidance of coach Janet Sullivan. The goal for the Black Knights this season is to right the ship and return to the postseason.

“Despite this opening game loss, I’m still optimistic that we can be a very good team and get back into the [postseason] tournament,” Sullivan said. “We played solid defense, although two untimely errors hurt us, but our offense has to improve and everybody needs to contribute with the bats.”

The Black Knights jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first inning when their first five batters combined for the three runs. Flaherty led off with a single, followed by singles from Zuk and senior rightfielder Nicole Beauregard, which loaded the bases with no outs. Sophomore shortstop Megan Flaherty followed with a sacrifice fly, scoring the game’s first run. Olans helped her own cause with a double, scoring two more runs.

But, those were all the runs that the Black Knights scored, as they only mustered three more hits over the final 6+ innings.

Olans breezed through the first two innings, but the Quincy offense was too strong to hold off and the Presidents came back to tie the game with a three-run third inning. Olans gave up five runs, four earned, but struck out eight while exhibiting perfect control, not allowing a walk.

“I thought Olans pitched well and she gave us a chance to win, but we couldn’t hit after the first inning to support her,” Sullivan said. “Quincy is too good a team to give chances and they took advantage of our few mistakes, as a good team will do.”

The Stoughton defense made a couple of key errors and the offense couldn’t do anything else against Quincy star pitcher Kori Sorenson. Sorenson, after a slow start, was on top of her game with 15 strikeouts, completely stifling the Stoughton attack over the final six innings.

“We had 15 of our 21 outs coming by strikeout, forcing them to only make six defensive outs, which didn’t put any pressure on their defense and made it a very easy game for them,” Sullivan said.

Quincy took the lead with a run in the sixth inning and added an insurance run in the seventh. Jamie Shannesy led the Quincy offense with two hits, the only player in the Presidents’ lineup with a multiple hit day.

“It was a good first game for us against a very strong non-league opponent,” Sullivan said. “I think our defense and pitching will be very sound, but we will make or break this season with our offense.”

Stoughton travels to Foxborough Thursday afternoon at 3:30 p.m.

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