Mustang Softball Pulls Out GBL Wins

– Allison Goldsberry

The Mustang varsity softball team, led by new head coach Jack Dempsey, has finally hit its stride.  The Mustangs were tested early on with some tough non-league competition, which now seems to have paid off in the Greater Boston League.  The team has pulled out two impressive GBL wins over Somerville and Cambridge.

Medford, behind the brilliant pitching of junior Jessica Mortelite (1 hit shutout) and outstanding errorless defense, defeated local rival Somerville 4-0 in their Greater Boston League opener at Medford’s Tufts Park on April 16. Somerville’s first batter of the game lead off with a single and that was the only hit of the game for the Highlanders.

Medford’s senior captain Kim Perault had a big day at the plate with 3 hits, 3 RBI’s and a stolen base. Speedy sophomore Kasey Moran also had 3 hits and 2 stolen bases. Also contributing hits were senior captain Nicole Lopilato and sophomores Sarah Moulton and Vicky Luongo. Mortelite provided solid defense on the mound.

After trailing 1-0 going into the 2nd inning against Cambridge, the Mustangs’ bats exploded for 18 runs and 22 hits, for a final score of 18-3. In the 2nd inning freshman Jackie Pellechia tripled home classmate Emily Welch, who had singled for the 1st Mustang run. Medford gave itself some breathing room in the 3rd inning by scoring 5 times- Perault tripled in 1 run while Welch tripled to add 2 more runs. The home team broke open the game with a nine run burst in the 6th inning, with multiple players contributing to the cause.

Four players had 3 hits each led by Perault, who scored 3 runs and 3 RBI’s, and Welch, also with 3 runs and 3 RBI’s. Luongo contributed 2 rbi’s and 2 runs scored, while Moran scored 1 run and had 3 stolen bases. Pellechia, along with sophomore Sarah Moulton and senior Tory Conlon, had 2 hits. Lopilato had 1 hit, 1 RBI, and 4 walks, Jen Bove and Lisa Furtado each had 1 hit and 2 walks, while juniors J.T.Rizzo and Kate Smith each had 1 hit.

The Lady Mustang’s next game is at Everett on Monday at 3:45 pm.