Sharon Softball Finishes 2012 With 'Best Game' in a While

The honored its seniors Thursday by asking each one to run around the bases to get hugs and gifts from their teammates, ending with a moment with their parents at home.

The Eagles then nearly ended their season with a come-from-behind win.

Trailing Stoughton 5-2 in the bottom of the seventh, Sharon scored twice, and had the tying run at the plate, but lost, 5-4, at the Ames Street Fields.

The Eagles are graduating co-captains Elaina Cho and Allie Friedman, as well as Stephanie Berenson, Katie Carrion and Emily Howards. Exchange student Ambra Marcon was recognized before Thursday's game as well.

"That was the best game, start to finish, that we've played in a while," said Sharon head coach Deb Parker, whose team finished 2012 at 4-16.

"Despite the fact that we didn't come out on top, it wasn't a bad game to end on."

Meanwhile, Stoughton (8-11) clinched a state tournament spot by winning Thursday.

"It's been a long season. It came down to the last game to make it into the tournament, and the kids came ready to play," Black Knights head coach Janet Sullivan said.

"We were playing a good team in Sharon, and (it was) an emotional day for them. They played a great game. We played a great game. They had a great comeback. A fun high school softball game for people to watch."

Sharon took a 1-0 lead in the second, when sophomore Allie Rubinowitz led off with a triple to left, scoring on a Howards single to left.

The Black Knights took the lead, though, in the fifth, scoring four runs off Sharon junior Kelsey Whiting.

Hannah Carpenter walked to open the inning. Katherine Chlus pinch-ran for her, and took second on a passed ball.

Jordan Angelos flied out to left. Michelle Bisbee's double to center scored Chlus, tying the score at 1-1.

Nicole Hayner popped out to second. Megan Flaherty singled, putting runners at the corners for Emily Cramer. Cramer's RBI single scored Flaherty and Bisbee, putting Stoughton ahead, 3-1. Cramer took second on the play.

Jessica Freitas pinch-ran for Cramer, and took third on a passed ball and scored on a wild pitch.

Stoughton made it 5-1 in the sixth. Angelos' grounder to short scored Kelsey Moriarty from third. Moriarty had led off the inning with a single, took second on a passed ball and third on Payton Pizzano's grounder to pitcher Whiting.

Sharon cut the lead to 5-2 in the bottom of the sixth. Whiting led off with a triple, and scored on an errant pick-off throw by the Stoughton catcher.

Sharon continued the comeback with one out in the seventh. Junior Erica Pais singled to short, scoring on Friedman's triple to center. Friedman scored on sophomore Jenna Kubiak's grounder to second, making it 5-4, Stoughton.

Whiting doubled to left, and took third on Rubinowitz's single, putting runners at the corners. But pitcher Cramer got Howards to fly out to right fielder Bisbee.