Acton-Boxborough Softball Defeats Lynn Classical, 6-1

The Acton-Boxborough softball team continued its quest for the state championship title by defeating Lynn Classical, 6-1, on Monday night in Lynn. The game marked the second tournament win for the Colonials after they were granted a bye in the first round and then defeated Salem, 3-0, on June 2, 2011.

After the first inning, it looked as if the game might become a pitchers’ duel between AB’s starting hurler Sarah Ropiak and Lynn Classical’s Mackenzie  Coppinger. With three up and three down for both sides, there was no score at the end of one. 

In the second inning, however, Steph Schieni  got the first hit of the game: a shot to right field that left her  standing on third base. Hannah Graney’s single garnered her an RBI, and AB was on the scoreboard with the game’s first run.

At the end of two, the score remained 1-0. Both teams stranded players in the next inning. Lynn Classical had runners on first and second in the bottom of the 4^th inning when Chelsea Bartlett sent the ball deep to center field.  Outfielder Nicole Geoffrion scooped it up and fired to third to throw the lead runner out.   Coppinger then hit a ground ball past the infield for an RBI, and the game was tied 1-1.

In the top of the 5^th, Lindsay Gibbs bunted for a hit and reached first base.  Maddie Hatch followed with a single. Jamay Li walked to load up the bases.  Schieni then reached first on an infield single, scoring Gibbs and making it 2-1. Michelle Surdan then drove in two more runs with a single, lifting the Colonials to a 4-1 lead.

The Colonials’ next run was scored after Kara O’Riley smashed the ball to right field for a triple in the 6^th inning.  Hatch drove her in, increasing the score to 5-1.  Li singled in the 7^th inning and scored after Schieni sent the ball to center field with a sacrifice fly.

The Lynn Classical team made some great catches in the outfield but couldn’t get a rally going to challenge Ropiak’s dominant pitching and AB’s effective offense.

After the game, head coach Mary Matthews had high praise for her team.  “I’m thrilled. They did a great job. Everyone’s hitting, one through nine.”

After congratulating her team on the win,  Matthews talked to them about the next round of play. At that time, the opponent was unknown, but the coach explained that both possibilities were worthy challengers. ”Either way, you’ve to fight, fight, fight against a good team,” she warned.

Before boarding the bus to come home, the team received news of Bishop Fenwick’s win over Malden.  The Bishop Fenwick-AB match-up is set for Wednesday night, June 8, 2011, at 7:00 p.m. in Lowell.

The girls started a countdown chant they hope will be predictive of their future. Before Monday’s win, it was Five more to the ‘ship.  It’s now, of course, Four more to the 'ship.