Burlington Softball Wins MIAA Div. 2 Championship

In just her second year as the head coach of the Burlington High School softball team, Kristen Mahoney can call herself and her team champions.

The No. 2 softball squad is now the 2011 MIAA softball North Division 2 champions after defeating No. 4 Reading High School, 3-2, Monday evening at Lowell’s Martin Field.

The game was tied 2-all in the bottom of the sixth until Burlington sophomore Danielle Coveno, pinch running for senior catcher Jillian Mazure, crossed home plate for the 3-2 advantage. Freshman Kayla Sheldon popped up a hit into right field and once the ball hit Reading’s glove Coveno booked it from third to home plate.

“It’s a great, great feeling,” Mahoney said. “I’m just so lucky to have great girls.”

The Middlesex matchup was close throughout the entire seven innings.

Burlington scored first in the bottom of the opening inning on Reading senior pitcher Nicole Cafazzo. Sophomore Haley Currie singled up the third baseline and brought home junior Christina Raso.

Reading then tied it 1-all in the top of the third against Burlington senior captain and pitcher Courtney Lanfranchi.

With two outs, junior Morgan Fallon scored on Tara Zerfas' single to third. Fallon initially singled to short stop, then stole second base with Zerfas at the plate, and Burlington’s throw from third to home for the attempted out wasn’t in time and Fallon earned the run.

The Red Devils took a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the third when, again, Currie scored Raso. Up first, Raso doubled, then senior captain Stacey Bezreh had a sacrifice bunt to get Raso on third, then Currie singled to short shop and as Reading senior Ashley Thayer fumbled the ball, Raso went home.

Reading wasn’t going to let Burlington take the victory so easily, and in the top of the fourth the Rockets came back to tie it 2-all.

Senior captain Meg Kelly doubled deep into left center field and advanced to third on senior Jenn Toussaint’s out. Junior Nicole Nelson then singled and Burlington didn’t make the throw from second to home in time, allowing Kelly to slide face first into home plate for the close call run.

Junior Emilie Manna came in to pinch run for Nelson and with two outs after an Ashley Thayer strikeout, junior Sydney Thayer walked, putting Manna on second. With senior Becca Davis at-bat, she struck the ball down the first base line and Burlington senior first baseman Amber Eisenhauer made a highlight play, just nabbing the third out after fumbling the ball on a one-handed catch, bobbling between her glove and fingertips, but eventually securing the grab.

“She’s a giant hero,” Mahoney said of Eisenhauer. “She’s been solid all year round.”

In the top of the seventh Reading had one final chance against Lanfranchi.

Sophomore Siobhan O’Sullivan popped a hit to left field for the first out. Sydney Thayer popped up to right field for the second out. And on a 3-1 pitch, Davis grounded to second base, with Bezreh scooping the ball and throwing to first where Eisenhauer made the final out, giving Burlington its win.

“(Lanfranchi played) phenomenal,” Mahoney said. “She did such a great job. Against a Reading team like this, you have to be on.”

Burlington moves ahead to play the South Champion (either No. 5 Coyle & Cassidy or No. 2 Hopkinton) on Tuesday at 7 p.m. at Martin Field for the State Division 2 title.

Note: Thanks to BHS Principal Patrick Larkin for use of pictures of the team he posted on his Burlington High School's Principal's Blog.