Fab Freshmen Lead Dedham Softball to Victory

Often when we hear the term, “fabulous freshmen,” we think one and done collegiate basketball pre-Madonnas.

In the case of Erika Eisenhunt’s Dedham High softball “Fab Freshmen” - Brianna Dozier and Meaghan Paton - nothing could be farther from the truth.

“They’re great,” said Eisenhunt, “and the best part about them is they have killer instincts and they’re competitors.”

Both Dozier and Paton, lead the Marauders Friday afternoon to a 14-4 romp over Milton, which improved Dedham to 7-3 overall.

Paton, in relief of Brooke Sheehan, saw her first action on the mound this season and was stellar as she went three innings giving up one hit, one run, while striking out three Wildcat hitters.

 "I was trying to get her on the mound," said Eisenhunt. "I was trying to find the right time and we had a decent lead."

Paton also hit a tape measure home run to go along with a 2-for-4 day at the plate with three RBIs and a double.

“It was so exciting, to be up on the box, and feel that bat hit the ball, it was awesome,” said Paton.

Her freshman counterpart, Dozier was hot at the plate as well as she went 2-for-2 with a double and scored two runs.

Milton, despite scoring a run in the opening half of the first, struggled in the bottom half to field a bunt cleanly leading to a two-base error and run for Dedham.

"I have screamed and yelled more this year than I have in the last 18 years," said Milton coach RJ Maturo,as his team dropped to 2-9 on the year. "I am frustrated. I just can’t get them to play."

The Marauders unloaded on the Wildcats in the second when they scored seven runs on seven hits off starting pitcher Brenna Callahan.

“For the whole team, it was nice to have everyone hit the ball,” said Eisenhunt. “We haven’t been able to lay into it the way I’ve wanted to, and today we did that.”

For the Wildcats the one bright spot may be the bat of Christine Brink, who laced a double and a home run and had two RBIs.

“They are doing the best they can, this is a good team but we should have been competitive and we weren’t,” said Maturo.

Next up for the Marauaders is Walpole on Saturday, and then at Braintree on Monday.