Norwood's Duggan Brings Home Win in Milton Mound Match-up

If you haven’t seen Lauren Duggan pitch for the Norwood girl’s softball team, you are truly missing out.

The mild-mannered pitcher with a ferocious fastball can light up the radar gun against Bay State opponents - which certainly was the case Wednesday night against Milton, where the UConn bound star struck out 14 Wildcat hitters, en route to the 2-0 win.

The undefeated Mustangs have now improved to (12-0) on the season.

In the first game against Milton, a 5-1 victory for the Mustangs, Duggan surrendered an uncharacteristic run to the Wildcats while in Wednesday night’s game, Duggan went all seven innings allowing just one hit and walking none.

“The first game I pitched against them I wasn’t that good, so going into this game I really wanted to show my team, and myself, that who they saw in the beginning of the season is not who I am,” said Duggan.

“I think it was one of her better games that she pitched,” said head coach Carol Savino.

Duggan, of course, needed support and she got it from Makenna Lane who laced a triple in to the left-center field gap in the bottom of the third. Duggan then helped her own cause as she hit a fly ball to center field that the Milton defender couldn’t handle for the 1-0 lead.

The rest was left for Duggan as she allowed only a single to Wildcat slugger Christine Brink on an off-speed pitch, which Brink deposited into left field in the top of the fourth inning for the only blemish on Duggan’s pitching line.

For Milton, they received a strong outing from their star pitcher as well, Brenna Callahan, who was masterful at keeping the Mustang hitters off balance with her ability to change speeds throughout the count.

Norwood did add an insurance run in the bottom of the fourth, when Melissa Chisolm scored on a well-executed sacrifice bunt by center fielder Casey Ducharme.

"She (Ducharme) was great," said Savino

Savino went on to praise catcher Emily Kelly, who had a big fly ball that may have carried out in most parks, to go along with a key defensive play late in the game.

“I think we gain something with Emily catching,” said Savino, “You do what you have to in high school, and bottom line is we are playing great D(efense).”

As far as offense goes, “We get the hits when we need to,” said Duggan. “Even if it’s one or two runs, we get what we need.”