Mustang Softball Challenged by Non-League Teams

– Allison Goldsberry

The Medford High girls varsity softball team are off to a tough start this season with losses in two hard fought battles to non-league teams.

Last Thursday the Lady Mustangs had a 5-2 lead over Arlington Catholic when things fell apart to a hard-hitting Cougar team in the sixth inning, said Head Coach Jack Dempsey. The local nine lost 9-6 to AC.

Junior Sarah Donnelly and freshmen Ashley Eisnor led Medford’s hitting attack, each belting long home runs and getting two RBI’s and two hits apiece. Senior captain Katie Napier, sophomore Brianna Napoleone, and sophomore Hannah O’Leary helped the offense with two hits, two RBI’s, and a three base hit, respectively. Senior captain Sam LoPilato and seniors Christina Lynch and Christina Sweeney each chipped in with a hit.

Freshman pitcher Eisnor struck out six Cougar batters in her high school debut.

On Monday the Lady Mustangs lost a 5-4 “thriller” to Revere despite an outstanding pitching performance by Eisnor, who struck out fourteen and allowed five hits.

The game was scoreless until the sixth when Medford was up by a run. The Mustangs unfortunately lost the lead and the game behind some close calls and defensive lapses. Medford was down 5-1 entering the bottom of the seventh, and despite a great comeback, the team came up short, with the tying run stranded on third to end the game.

LoPilato had two hits, two walks, a run scored, and an RBI while Napoleone added two hits and a run scored. Lynch and Napier each contributed a single and RBI while Donnelly and O’Leary each added an RBI.

Next up for Medford is a trip to Framingham on Thursday.