Norton Softball Holds Off Westwood For Victory

In a battle between two teams vying for spots in the MIAA Tournament, the  softball team held off a late rally by Westwood to defeat the Wolverines 8-6 in a Tri-Valley League contest on Wednesday afternoon at Norton High School.

The loss dropped Westwood to 8-9 overall and 6-9 in the TVL. The Wolverines need to win two of their final three games to qualify for the MIAA Tournament.

Freshman E.B. Messineo went the distance on the mound for the Wolverines. She allowed eight runs and nine hits, while striking out five batters and walking three.

Senior captain and third baseman Leigha Valentine led the Westwood eight-hit attack with a 2-for-4 performance that included a single, double and one run scored. Senior captain and center fielder Rachel Masotta was 2-for-3 with two singles, one RBI and one run scored.

Scoring runs in each of the first four innings, Norton took an 8-1 lead. Westwood scored five times in the top of the sixth to make it 8-6, but Donato closed the door from there.

The Wolverines got on the board first with a run in the top of the first inning. Junior second baseman Keira Travers reached base on a fielder’s choice, advanced to second on a single by Valentine and scored on a single to center field by Messineo.

The victory improved the Lancers to 5-10 overall and 5-9 in the league. Norton needs to win its final five games of the regular season to earn a postseason berth.

“We hit the ball, played the field pretty well and executed the little things,” said Norton head coach Wayne Morse. “No matter how things end up shaking out for us during the rest of the season, we are going back to the basics. We don’t want the kids to get lax at all. We want them to play hard right to the end of the season.”

Sophomore Miranda Donato had a terrific all-around game for the Lancers. She earned the victory on the mound, surrendering six runs and eight hits, while striking out five batters and walking two.

Putting aside a five-run uprising byWestwood in the top of the sixth, Donato allowed just one run and five hits in the other six innings, striking out four and walking just one. She also had a terrific day at the plate, going 3-for-4 with three singles, one RBI and three runs scored.

“Miranda pitched very well,” said Morse. “She has come a long way since last year. Her command is much better.”

Norton banged out a total of nine hits. Along with Donato’s effort, senior captain and third baseman Nicole Cuneo went 2-for-4 with two singles, two RBI and one run scored. Freshman left fielder Kathy Remick was also 2-for-3 with two singles and a run scored.

Norton tied the game with a run in the bottom of the inning. Donato led off the frame with a single. She stole second and moved to third on a single by Cuneo. Donato scored on a groundout by freshman center fielder Ashley Cibotti to tie the game at 1-1.

The Lancers took the lead for good with a four-run outburst in the bottom of the second. With one out, sophomore right fielder Stephanie Belcher and Remick reached base on consecutive singles. Junior third baseman Meg Brown then walked to load the bases.

Donato brought home the first run of the inning with a bloop single down the right field line. A sacrifice fly to left field by senior captain and shortstop Rebecca Morse brought home Remick to make it 3-1. Cuneo then culminated the rally with a two-run single to center, which scored Brown and Donato to push the lead to 5-1.

The Lancers added another run in the bottom of the third when junior captain and catcher Caisey Calabro walked with one out. Sophomore Marissa Dole came into the game to run for Calabro and stole second base before she scored on an error to make it 6-1.

Norton then scored what turned out to be a pair of important insurance runs in the bottom of the fourth. Donato reached base on an infield single. She was sacrificed to second by Morse and advanced to third base on the throw to first. Donato scored when Cuneo reached base on an error to make it 7-1. One batter later, Cuneo scored on a single to center field by senior captain and second baseman Julie Aussubel.

Westwood got back in the game by scoring six times in the top of the sixth. Valentine doubled to open the frame and Messineo reached on an error. Another error allowed sophomore right fielder Kristina Barounis to reach base and for Valentine to score.

A fielder’s choice off the bat of freshman left fielder Joanne O’Sullivan scored Messineo to cut the lead to 8-3. One batter later, sophomore designated hitter Brittany Dwan chased home Barounis with a groundout to make it 8-4.

An infield single by Masotta brought home O’Sullivan to slice the deficit to 8-5. After junior shortstop Molly O’Brien walked, Travers brought home the fifth run of the inning with a bloop single to left center field that scored Masotta to make it 8-6.

“I expected the kids to fight back and they did,” said Westwood head coach Jonas Sherr. “I know this team pretty well. I knew that they would keep fighting. We just needed to have the same sense of urgency early in the game that we showed late in the game. There are things that you can learn in every game, even in game 17.”

But Donato got out of the sixth inning with a groundout and retired the Wolverines in order in the top of the seventh inning to close out the victory.

Having to win its final five games, Norton will begin that quest on Thursday afternoon when the team hosts Medfield in a TVL game at Norton High School at 3:45 p.m.

Needing to win two of its final three games, Westwood will face a challenge on Thursday when the team hosts Hopkinton in a league contest at 3:45 p.m. The Wolverines will then travel to Dover-Sherborn for a TVL game on Monday at 3:45 p.m. before completing the regular season by hosting Medway in a league contest next Wednesday at 3:45 p.m.

“The kids have put themselves in a position to get to the tournament,” Sherr said. “Now they have to follow through, execute and get it done. I know the kids won’t let today effect how they play tomorrow. They are a tested team that is mentally tough. They will be ready to play tomorrow and next week.”