Hopedale Softball Wins Division 3 Central Mass Title

By John McGuirk (@Patsfan1313)

WORCERSTER, Mass. - It took nine innings to decide but the Blue Raiders did just enough to come away victorious as they downed top-seed Blackstone Valley Tech 2-1 in the Division 3 Central Mass. final. 

No. 6 Hopedale (16-8), winning its first district title since 2015, will now face the ultimate test on Tuesday when it squares off against eight-time state champion Turners Falls at UMass-Amherst beginning at 3 p.m.Turners Falls, winners of the past two state finals, blew out Mount Everett 15-1 in the Western Mass. title game on Saturday.

Savannah Small Leads Grafton Softball to Division 2 Central title

By John McGuirk (@Patsfan1313)

WORCESTER, Mass. - Oakmont Regional came into its Division 2 Central Mass. title game unblemished. If ever there was a year for the Spartans to pick up a district title, this was it. But Oakmont had not seen a pitcher the likes of Savannah Small this season. 

The Grafton junior ace was superb throughout, holding the mighty Spartan batters to just four hits and striking out 11 as the Indians prevailed 7-0.

Wachusett Softball Earns First Sectional Title

By John McGuirk (@Patsfan1313)

WORCESTER, Mass. - After the final out was recorded, Wachusett Regional jumped, danced and hollered all over the diamond inside Rockwood Field. This celebration serving as a true culmination in which disappointment had finally given way to newfound glory.

The top-seeded Mountaineers claimed their first Division 1 Central Mass. district title by out-lasting No. 2 Doherty 3-1 Saturday evening. This long-awaited victory erased a plethora of bad memories of season's gone bye in which Wachusett, a team always stockpiled with plenty of talent, could never quite get over the hump within its own bracket.

Fagan Does it All for Shepherd Hill Softball in Upset of Nashoba

Shepherd Hill's Cayley Fagan excelled both in the circle as a pitcher, and in the batter's box for the Rams.

By John McGuirk (@patsfan1313)


BOLTON - Three errors in one inning, which resulted in three runs by the opposition had many guessing if Shepherd Hill was in over its head during Saturday's Central Mass Division 1 quarterfinal against Nashoba Regional.

Coming in as the underdog, few gave the sixth-seeded Rams much of a shot against the third-seeded Chieftains. Adding to that belief was the fact that, only a week ago, Nashoba blanked Shepherd Hill in its regular-season finale.

But the postseason can be a different animal. Playing with a nothing to lose attitude, the Rams continued to force the issue throughout by staying close. As the game wore on, Shepherd Hill's confidence level continued to rise. Inside its dugout, there was a growing belief that they could get the job done.

Indeed. Cayley Fagan's solo home run in the top of the sixth inning, off of Nashoba starting pitcher Taylor Colvin, was the difference as Shepherd Hill prevailed 4-3.

Late-Game Fireworks Propel Shrewsbury Softball Past St. Peter-Marian

By John McGuirk (@patsfan1313)

SHREWSBURY - Down, but certainly not out, Shrewsbury was still in search of a turning point that it could feast upon.

In the St. Peter-Marian fourth inning, it finally came. With the Guardians on top by a run, loading the bases, they sat on the cusp of putting a dagger in the backs of the Colonials once and for all.

But lo and behold, Shrewsbury pitcher Molly O'Neill found a way to tight-rope her way out of trouble by not allowing the Guardians to add to their total, as the junior walked out of the circle unscathed.

As a result, the Colonials quickly seized momentum, scoring six times in the fifth, and adding four more in the sixth, to runaway with a convincing 11-4 triumph in the quarterfinal round of the Division 1 Central Mass. tournament.

Wachusett Softball Guts Out a Win Against Turners Falls

By John McGuirk (@patsfan1313)

MONTAGUE - It is a rare occurrence when a Division 1 program is willing to drop down two levels to play a team out of Division 3. On the flip side, most Division 3 schools within the Commonwealth would never consider playing up, as most D 3 coaches feel the level of competition is too great. Most teams, except Turners Falls that is.

The Indians, regarded by many as being the perfect blue print on how to run a successful softball program, have no issues when it comes to playing up. In fact, you could make a strong case that they are better than most Division 1 programs scattered across the state.

On a cool, damp Sunday evening, Wachusett, with an enrollment of over 2,000, and widely-considered the best program in Central Mass, locked horns with Turners Falls (enrollment of under 270).

A mismatch? Hardly.

Wachusett Softball Edges Doherty in Battle of CMass Unbeatens

Wachusett pitcher Liv Strasser prepares to deliver against Doherty Thursday.

By John McGuirk (@patsfan1313)

HOLDEN - Over the course of the first three innings, Wachusett Regional managed to strand five runners on base without producing a single run. Such a circumstance made you wonder if this was a prelude to the type of day the Mountaineers would endure against mighty Doherty.

In a battle between two of the state's heavyweight programs, and top-tier pitchers, Wachusett finally came up with an answer in its half of the fourth inning. The Mountaineers plated three runs during the frame and were able to fend off the Highlanders the rest of the way en route to a 3-1 triumph Thursday afternoon.

Wachusett Softball Runs Away from Holy Name in Battle of CMass Powers

By John McGruik (@patsfan1313)

HOLDEN - This was the last thing you would have come to expect between two of the most historic and successful softball programs in Central Mass.

Rarely do we get an opportunity to witness a pair of powerhouses going head-to-head in the season opener. But, due to some earlier postponements caused by inclement weather, that is what transpired on Tuesday afternoon.

Wachusett Regional and Holy Name, neither a stranger to winning, squared off on a picture perfect, 80 degree afternoon. It is no secret that both programs are quite capable of running the postseason tournament table while vying for a state championship.

However, following Wachusett's stunning 12-0 mercy-ruled victory, it appears the Mountaineers are more-ahead of schedule to do so.