The AB Revs softball team had a busy few weeks, with a double-header against Concord-Carlisle Regional High School (CC) on May 19 followed by a Memorial Day makeup game against Shepherd Hill Regional (SH) on May 26.
Revs earn split in double-header with CCRHS after bats heat up in nightcap.
In a rare double-header, necessitated to make up for a rained-out game, the Revolution could muster only one run in the opener, losing 6-1, but heated up as the temperature dropped, to win the nightcap, 7-6. AB starting pitcher Aislinn Ryan struck out six Patriots in the first three innings, but received no offensive support after Ila Gillespie singled in leadoff batter Ryan (single) in the first inning. CC pitcher Alex Tyson scattered four more hits, while fanning four, over the next six innings, to earn the victory.
AB held the Patriots scoreless until they erupted for three runs in the third via two walks, two stolen bases, two wild pitches, and a hit batsman. CC padded their lead with one more run in the fifth, and two in the sixth, collecting nine hits for the game.
In the second game, Concord-Carlisle was now the “away” team, and jumped right out of the gate when Ella Fahey tripled, and scored on Reese Phillips’ sac fly. AB pitcher Stacey Loram quickly buckled down, allowing no runs for the next four innings, with the help of a tight infield, and some fine outfield catches, including five by center fielder Gillespie.
As in Game 1, the Revs plated leadoff hitter Ryan, this time with a triple by Loram, who in turn scored on Gillespie’s sac fly. In the third, Cassidy Ford scored the third run after a series of Patriots’ errors and fielders’ choices, and the Revs added one more after Gillespie was hit by a pitch and scored on Ryan’s double. But CC went to work in the sixth, pounding out five hits for two more runs, setting the stage for Alex Tyson, who, after Phillips singled, ignited the local fans with a two-run homer over the left field fence to tie the game at six. Olivia Scaduto and Caroline Hollywood then singled, but were stranded after a popup to short, to end the scare.
In AB’s seventh, three walks loaded the bases for Loram, whose third hit of the game (half of her team’s total) delivered the walk-off win for the happy Revs.
AB, 10-7 after the split, played Greater Lowell Tech on May 20, Billerica on the 21st, and Shepherd Hill Regional on the 23rd to close out the regular season. (Concord-Carlisle’s record was not available on its website).
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.