By Allison Goldsmith
I&M Sports Editor
Despite opening the season without a win, the junior varsity softball team has been putting up some big numbers. After falling to Falmouth last Wednesday, the Whalers tied Mashpee 14-14 on Thursday and dropped two games to Bourne in a double-header on Saturday, 5-3 and 17-13.
The Nantucket JV squad (0-3-1) is not scheduled to play again until Monday, May 7 at Mashpee.
“This year we are finally playing teams that are at our level. They are finally being able to play ball and see how the game is played and what works and what doesn’t,” head coach Merrill Mason said.
In the first game of the double-header against Bourne on Saturday, the Whalers started off with a run in the first inning. Shelby Campbell singled to get on base and came home on a single by Christina Anderson.
The Canalmen put up runs in the second, third and fourth innings to take the lead before Nantucket answered with a few more.
Mercedes Leone singled in the fourth, stole two bases and came in on a hit from Anderson, while Kate Godlesky singled, stole second and scored on an RBI single from Morgan Dugan. The late-game push would not be enough to overcome the Canalmen, who held on for the two-run victory.
“They played well defensively and offensively everyone made connections with the ball, which is nice to see,” Mason said. “They had a really strong pitcher. They were probably pretty even with us defensively. We didn’t make any mistakes. They just had a couple more hits than we did.”
Leone was strong defensively for the Whalers at shortstop with five put-outs.
In game two of the double-header, the Canalmen jumped in front early, scoring five runs in the first inning. The Whalers struggled defensively in the inning, adjusting to new positions in the second game of the day.
Bourne went up 12-2 in the first two innings before Nantucket fought back with four in the third and seven in the fourth. But the Canalmen were able to pick up two additional runs for the victory.
“We had a problem against Falmouth where we had a couple runs scored against us and it was a trickle-down effect. I think they really learned their lesson in that game and from now on their spirits aren’t easily shattered when there are runs scored against them,” Mason said.
Among the highlights, Emily Perry hit a double to drive in Ashley Clinger in the second inning, Mayla Davis hit a double to drive in Clinger and Perry in the third and Godlesky smacked a triple in the fourth. Morgan Dugan was 3-for-4 in the game.
Thayer Dugan made three impressive outs from third base to hold Bourne in the fifth inning.
Against Mashpee on Thursday, the Whalers scored two runs in the seventh inning to tie the game. Nantucket was forced to opt out of extra innings in order to catch the boat home.
The Falcons scored seven runs in the fifth inning to take the lead. In the bottom of the seventh, Godlesky and Clinger each singled in front of Thayer Dugan and Andrea Marelli, who drove them home.
Dugan and Clinger were each 3-for-4 in the game and Jordan Salter had a two-run double in the fifth inning. Godlesky struck out 10 on the mound for the Whalers.
Reach Allison Goldsmith at sports@inkym.com |
