Burlington Softball captures Eastern Mass Title with 2-0 win

A day after beating Middlesex League rival Reading to capture the programs first ever Division 2 North title, the softball team knocked off Hopkinton 2-0 to claim the Division 2 Eastern Massachusetts title on Tuesday night at Martin Field in Lowell.

Burlington was led by ace pitcher and team captain Courtney Lanfranchi who tossed a complete game surrendering just three hits.

Burlington won a coin toss prior to the game to earn the right to be the home team so Hopkinton batted first. The first inning ended when Emily Jarvis was gunned down by Burlington catcher Jillian Mazure while she was trying to steal second base to end the inning which got the large Burlington crowd into the game.

The crowd was quieted in the home half of the inning when Hopkinton pitcher Michelle Cooprider struck out the side in order.

Hopkinton right fielder Nicole Mellor singled in the top of the second with one out but was left stranded at first base as Lanfranchi got the next two hitters out to end the inning.

Burlington finally made a little noise at the plate in the bottom of the third when April Adams got the first Red Devil hit of the game when she reached base on a bunt single. Christina Raso followed with a single of her own to put runners on first and second but Cooprider induced a fly out to get out of the jam.

After retiring eight consecutive Hopkinton hitters, Lanfranchi got into a little bit of trouble in the top of the fifth. Mellor singled to leadoff the inning for her second hit of the game. Paige Phelan followed with a hard hit ball to shortstop that could not be handled cleanly and put runners on first and second base. Lanfranchi responded as ace pitchers do by getting two pop outs and a groundout to strand the runners at first and second.

In the home half of the fifth Burlington broke the tie as they plated two runs to take the lead. Amber Eisenhauer reached on a bunt single and then stole second base. With two outs Raso singled to left field as Eisenhauer raced home to beat the throw and put the Red Devils up 1-0. Raso reached second on a heads up play taking second when the ball was thrown home. Captain Stacey Bezreh followed win a single up the middle that Raso scored on, to make it 2-0. After Haley Currie drew a walk, Cooprider got out of the inning with a fly out, but the damage had been done.

Lanfranchi came out and retired the side in order in the top of the sixth inning to put Burlington just three outs away from the Eastern Massachusetts title. Burlington could not add to its lead in the bottom of the sixth inning and went to the final frame up 2-0.

Lanfranchi got two groundouts to begin the inning before Phelan reached on an error to bring the tying run to the plate. Lanfranchi got a fly out to centerfield to end the game as the team stormed the field and sending the Burlington crowd into a craze.

Burlington is now 22-2 and has won 17 consecutive games dating back to late April. Burlington will play for the Division 2 state championship on Saturday at Worcester State College. They will play the winner of the game between Leicester and the Western Massachusetts champion who will play on Thursday.