Bedford Beats Concord-Carlisle Badly in Summer Softball Action

Defeated doesn't explain it.

The Concord-Carlisle Patriots were wrecked by Bedford, 21-2, in just five innings, in a 14B MiddleEssex softball league contest Thursday night at CCHS.

The game closed out the summer season for both teams.

"Most of the time you can either put your head in the game or have your head out of the game. We got creamed," C-C coach Mike Spiers said with a little bit of laughter.

In the top of the first, Bedford's Shannon Svenson's deep home run into center field scored Addie Hurwitz to make it 2-0 and the visitors were off. The Patriots' pitcher struck out the next two batters to end the inning, giving C-C a chance to strike in the bottom of the inning.

And they hit. A two-run home run tied the game at 2-apiece. C-C's following two batters were struck out by Bedford's Meghan Stanley.

But Bedford (12-1-1) and C-C (6-7) didn't mirror each other's plays all night; Bedford really was in a league of its own.

In the top of the second, the C-C pitcher struggled as Bedford sent seven batters to the plate.

Bedford's Anne Bartkus stole second base and Elliana Boebel was walked. Hayley Bayen was thrown a wild pitch, which advanced the runners to second and third and put Bayen on first with a walk to load the bases.

The Patriot pitcher struck out the next two batters for the first two outs, but that third out didn't come in time for the Patriots.

Hurwitz scored Bartkus and Boebel, making it a 4-2 game, advancing Bayen to third and herself to second. Then a two-run single made it 6-2.

In the top of the third inning, Bedford scored six more runs.

Bedford's Miranda Skurla's triple brought Svenson home. Originally, Skurla made it to second base, but she was blocked by C-C's first baseman, which allowed her a free trip to third. A hit batter and another wild pitch brought home another run.

Bedford loaded the bases with walks and scored four more times to prompt the six-run rule.

A relief pitcher took the mound in the top of the fourth for the Patriots, but Bedford still battled. The visitors again invoked the six-run rule to take a 19-2 lead.

C-C came close to scoring in the bottom of the fourth, but stranded a runner on third base on a nice play by Bedford's shortstop.

C-C brought on a third pitcher in the fifth inning. She allowed a single, a stolen base to second on a wild pitch, a walk, a second stolen base to third, another single to first and for the third time, Bedford was at-bat with bases loaded and zero outs.

Hurwitz scored from third (20-2) off of Skurla's hit, although Skurla was tagged for the first out. The scoring was capped with a single.

The Patriots loaded the bases in the bottom of the fifth, but couldn't capitalize. The inning ended when Bedford's shortstop snagged a line drive and doubled off the runner at third base.

That ended the inning and invoked the mercy rule.