April 2, Acton-Boxborough Regional High School: Softball fans were treated to an exciting Opening Day contest, with the AB Revolution and Chelmsford Lions providing an offensive showcase featuring six extra-base hits, including a sliding triple by Revs left fielder Shay Maria, and also some stellar fielding: only two errors on the day, and a spectacular catch in right field.
Coach Kara O’Riley’s squad tallied in the first inning with a sacrifice fly by Cassidy Ford, but were trailing 4-1 after three. They added one more run in the fourth when Margo Fox’s sacrifice bunt plated Stacey Loram. The next inning saw yet another sacrifice, when Ila Gillespie’s deep fly ball brought home Ford, who had tripled. In the sixth, Loram and Margot Abeele, who had walked and singled, respectively, were driven home by Alice Rosecan’s deep double.
In the top of the seventh, Abeele made a great diving catch in right field to end the inning, stranding two Chelmsford runners. AB’s bats then went to work when Loram connected for her second hit of the day, a double, driving in Gillespie and Aislinn Ryan, to tie the game, and crossed the plate herself after Abeele’s walk-off single.
Revs pitcher Ila Gillespie struck out nine Lions hitters, while Chelmsford’s M. McCusker struck out seven. On April 4, AB lost to Lexington High School, 8-7. They then hosted Dual-County League opponents Waltham on April 9, and Natick on the 11th, and, on the 14th, will travel to Newton South.
James Conboy played in the Acton Adult Softball League for seventeen years, and now plays in the EMASS Senior Softball League. He covers many sports games for the Acton Exchange.