Lexington Softball Falls in D-I North Final

Midnight struck for the Lexington High School softball team on Sunday.

The No. 12 Minutemen fell 5-0 to second-seeded Concord-Carlisle High School in the Division I North final at Martin Field in Lowell.

Despite entering the tournament as the two-time defending state champions, the Minutemen's low seed made them the Cinderella story of the postseason. Lexington (15-8) reached the sectional final on the heels of three straight upset victories, including knocking off No. 1 Central Catholic in the semifinals last week.

Sunday's loss was the first for the Minutemen in the postseason in three years.

The sectional championship continues a stellar season for Concord-Carlisle (23-1), its first in D-I. The Patriots had won six D-II North titles since 1999. They will return to Lowell on Tuesday to face King Philip Regional of Wrentham in the state semifinals.

Again, it was junior pitcher Gayle Miner who paced the C-C attack. The Patriots' ace picked up her third shutout of the postseason. She struck out four, gave up two hits and walked one batter.

At the plate, Miner gave the Patriots all the offense they would need with a three-run double in the third inning.

The Patriots scored their other two runs when Clare Kavanagh came around on a Lexington error in the fourth inning and Jess Stout doubled in Georgia Guttadauro in the fifth.

Lexington's two hits were a bunt single by Katy DelGreco in the second and a single by Alyssa Zahka in the sixth.

Danielle DelGreco and Becky Hoffman split pitching duties for the Minutemen.