Mustang Softball Qualifies for State Tournament
Post-Season Action 1st in 3 Years for Medford
The Medford girls softball team qualified for the state tournament for the first time in three years by beating non-league rival Winchester 4-3 in a hard-fought contest on Wednesday afternoon.
The Lady Mustangs took an early 2-0 lead when junior Vicky Luongo singled home. Junior Kristina Bove also singled and stole second base. Emily Welch drove home the second run with a long triple to score freshman Sam Lopilato, who got on base with a single. In the fourth inning Welch took advantage of shabby fielding by Winchester and put Medford ahead 3-2 with some nifty base-running.
The Sachems tied the game 3-3 in the top of the sixth but the Mustangs bounced back on a run-scoring fielder’s choice hit by Lopilato that scored pinch running junior Sam Rodriguez from third base.
Bove then closed the door on the Winchester nine in the top half of the seventh inning on her way to her seventh win of the year. Bove pitched a complete game six-hitter for the win, which sealed the Mustangs’ state tournament berth.
Junior Kasey Moran had two hits while six other players had one hit apiece.
Medford notched another victory on Thursday afternoon in a come-from-behind win over Watertown.
After falling behind 4 to 1 after three innings, the Lady Mustang bats came alive and erupted for nine runs in the bottom of the 4th inning on the way to a 13-6 victory.
The home team banged out sixteen hits behind the combined pitching of junior Kristina Bove, sophomore Rayann Staude and senior Jessica Mortellite. Senior captain Nicole Lopilato chipped in with two hits and two RBI’s along with seniors Katie Smith and JT Rizzo and Bove. Eight other Lady Mustangs contributed one hit each.
It was the final home game for Medford, and four graduating seniors, Lopilato, Mortellite, Smith, and Rizzo, were honored by their teammates.
After competing in a Memorial Day tournament, the Medford squad now stands at 10 wins and 8 losses.
The Mustangs will host Westford Academy in the opening round of the state tournament. The game is at 5:00PM at Tufts Park in Medford on Saturday, June 5.
On a side note, the varsity baseball team is also hosting Westford Academy on Saturday, June 5. That game is at 3:00PM at Playstead Park.
– Submitted by Jack Dempsey and edited by Allison Goldsberry