HOPKINTON – Freddy Rivera didn’t need to adjust his team’s game plan based on the weather.
Instead, Wednesday’s constant rain and cool temperatures only played into its strengths.
The Bishop Brady softball team forced a plethora of miscues in its 14-9 victory over Hopkinton, as aggressive baserunning and strategic at-bats – compounded by the day’s slick conditions – added insult to injury for the home squad.
The Green Giants scored eight runs as a direct result of errors, with double steals, sizeable leads and timely bunts proving troublesome for the team that started the week a perfect 5-0. And that, Rivera said, is something his players have been striving toward.
“We’re aggressive in general, but with these conditions, we definitely wanted to keep that up,” said Rivera, whose team improved to 4-2 with its second straight win. “The girls are applying what I’m teaching them, which is fantastic. It’s great to watch them on the bases, and it obviously worked in our favor today.”
Hopkinton committed four errors in the top of the second inning, as a 2-2 tie turned into a six-run deficit. The Hawks refused to give in, though, and fought their way back to within three two innings later.
Grace Gauthier cut the deficit to 10-4 early in the fourth when her sacrifice fly plated Lily Scammon from third, before an RBI single off the bat of Kasey Smith – and a rare Brady error – scored Samantha Brewer and Felicia Gordon to cut the deficit to four. Smith made it a three-run game moments later when she crossed the plate on a wild pitch.
Unfortunately for Coach Dan Meserve’s team, the Hawks couldn’t inch closer, as Brady scored two more in the fifth to up its lead to 12-7, and added single runs in each of the final two innings.
“It was a miserable day for softball, but I was very pleased with the way we battled and never gave up,” said Meserve, whose team fell to 5-2. “I mean, they didn’t quit and that was a good thing.”
Bishop Brady had some highlights offensively, as senior Becca Olson drove in a trio of runs on a pair of hits – she also scored twice. Olson made it a 5-2 game in the second inning with a two-run double, and made it 13-7 in the sixth when her groundout plated courtesy runner Jackie Hill.
“She’s been hot all season leading us with two, three hits a game,” Rivera said. “She’s really been doing a great job for us. She’s doing everything I could ask of a senior, which is awesome.”
Lily Rivera picked up the win from the circle, surrendering four earned runs on five hits and two walks in a complete-game effort. She struck out five.
The team’s ace pitcher had the Hawks off balance throughout the contest with an even mix of fastballs and offspeed pitches.
“The offspeed changes were key,” Rivera said of his daughter. “If she could keep the ball down and on the ground, we were going to be successful. I thought she did a really good job with that today.”
Rivera’s counterpart, Alexis Blanchette, also went the distance, allowing five hits and eight walks while striking out six.
“It was a really good effort, especially considering she pitched seven innings yesterday,” Meserve said of Blanchette. “So to have her come back on a day like this, I really thought she pitched well.”
Hopkinton will try to bounce back from its first losses of the season Monday when it travels to face Conant (4-2). Bishop Brady, meanwhile, will try to extend its first win streak of the season Friday against Somersworth (1-5). The forecast calls for sun in that matchup, but if things were to change, Rivera likely wouldn’t mind.
“These were some tough conditions to play in today,” he said. “Thankfully, our girls were able to use that to their advantage.”
(Michael Pezone can be reached at 369-3338 or mpezone@cmonitor.com or on Twitter @mpezoneNH.)
From coaches’ reports
Bedford 11, Concord 2
Key players: Bedford – Sue Martin (complete-game win, 2 ER), Sandy Murphy (3-run homer, 3 runs); Concord – Izzy Dunn (2 hits), Emily Beckett, Haley Munroe, Caitlyn Shea and Abby Rochette (hit apiece)
Highlights/key moments: Concord struggled offensively and in the field to drop its second straight.
Records: Concord 3-6; Bedford 6-2
Merrimack Valley 16, ConVal 3
Key players: MV – Miranda Crane (3-for-3, home run, 4 runs, 2 RBI), Lindsay Balch (2 hits, 3 RBI), Katelyn Hill (2 hits, 4 RBI)
Highlights/key moments: Merrimack Valley used its biggest offensive output of the season to top the Cougars win for the third time in its last five games.
Records: Merrimack Valley 3-5; ConVal 1-7
John Stark 12, Hollis-Brookline 6
Key players: Stark – Gillian McGirr (2 home runs, 3 RBI), Kendall Keim, Sarah Lyons, Sarah Ferguson and Jillian Palmacci (each went 2-for-4, driving in a combined 6 runs), Jocelyn Dimond, Kali Kolehmainen and Haley Philibotte (responsible for 5 runs), Delani Dowst (complete game, 4 K, 1 BB)
Highlights/key moments: John Stark scored nine runs in the second inning to break the game wide open.
Coach’s quote: “Our team had a breakout offensive performance today as everyone up and down the lineup contributed … truly a team effort and win.” – Stark’s Gerry Morin
Records: Stark 2-5; Hollis-Brookline 2-5
Campbell 17, Kearsarge 0
Key players: Kearsarge – Ashley Thompson and Farrah Wilson (had the only hits for Kearsarge), Maddie Folcik (3 IP)
Highlights/key moments: Campbell hit up and down its lineup, with eight hitters combining for a total of 14 hits, eight RBI and 14 runs. Campbell never surrendered the lead after the first inning, scoring seven more runs on two doubles.
Records: Campbell 6-1; Kearsarge 3-6
Berlin 12, Winnisquam 4
Key players: Winnisquam – Lindsay Raymond (grand slam), Marissa DeBlasie (2-for-2, 2 walks, run), Talia DeBlasie (3 IP, 2 R, 4 H, 2 BB, K)
Highlights/key moments: Winnisquam trailed 2-0 after three when the Bears had to make a pitching change. Berlin took advantage and hit four home runs afterward, scoring five in the fourth and five more in the fifth before Raymond’s grand slam helped Winnisquam avoid being mercy-ruled.
Coach’s quote: “We were down 12-0 in the fifth and could’ve said the heck with it, it’s rainy, it’s crappy. But we didn’t and came back in the fifth.” – Winnisquam’s Kevin Dame
Records: Winnisquam 5-2; Berlin 5-2
John Stark 20, Spaulding 2
Key players: Stark – Danielle Galli (4 goals), Lizzie Brandt (3 goals, assist), Olivia Sohl and Liz Neal (2 assists each), Cady Loos and Rylee Ledoux (2 goals each), Olivia Fatcheric (first career goal)
Highlights/key moments: Spaulding scored two early goals, but Stark scored eight goals in the first six minutes and pulled away to a 14-2 halftime lead. Eleven Generals players scored.
Coach’s quote: “It was good to get back to playing games and we got a lot of players in the mix today.” – Stark’s John Warner
Records: Stark 3-3; Spaulding 0-7
Bishop Brady 18, Campbell 6
Key players: Brady – Sam Will (3 goals), Sarah Plourde (3 goals), Abby Tremblay (3 goals), Alex Sacco (2 goals), Sophia Palangas (2 goals), Dana Beauregard (2 goals); Campbell – Jocelyn Theriault (2 goals)
Highlights/key moments: After a pair of close losses, Brady snapped a two-game skid with a solid effort against Campbell.
Records: Brady 2-5; Campbell 0-6
Portsmouth 20, Merrimack Valley 1
Highlights/key moments: The Pride couldn’t carry the momentum of its first win of the season into the matchup with powerhouse Portsmouth, which has scored 20 or more goals four times in games this season.
Records: MV 1-4; Portsmouth 6-2
Kearsarge 14, Gilford 4
Key players: Kearsarge – Eleanor Angus (3 goals, 3 assists), Leslie Angus (3 goals, 1 assist), Kaileigh Davis (2 goals), Maicy Hansen (2 goals), Anna Stowell (2 goals), Brie Von Beren (goal), Jackie DeAngelis (goal)
Highlights/key moments: Kearsarge ran its winning streak to six games.
Records: Kearsarge 6-1; Gilford 4-4
Hopkinton 16, ConVal 10
Key players: Hopkinton – Amelia Bassett (5 goals, 2 assists), Lyndon Flanagan (4 goals, 3 assists), Hannah Bassett (goal, assist), Taylor Signor (goal, assist), Anna Hoffman (goal, assist), Ivanna Duval (6 saves)
Highlights/key moments: Hopkinton snapped a three-game losing streak with a solid effort.
Coach’s quote: “The team had a great offensive game which resulted in the win.” – Hokinton’s Tim Bassett
Records: Hopkinton 2-5; ConVal 1-4
Gilford 14, Hopkinton 12
Key players: Hopkinton – Amelia Bassett (5 goals, 3 assists), Lyndon Flannagon (3 goals, assist), Hannah Bassett (2 goals, 2 assists)
Highlights/key moments: The Hawks dropped a tight game against Gilford on Tuesday.
Records: Hopkinton 1-5; Gilford 4-3
Lebanon 18, Belmont 6
Key players: Belmont – Allivia Burbank and Anna Scott (both scored)
Highlights/key moments: The Red Raiders came out very strong for the first time this season, scoring a season-high in goals, but ultimately fell to a hard-driving Lebanon squad on Tuesday.
Coach’s quote: “Our team really demonstrated unity, and worked well to feed off of each others skills. I was very pleased to see so much improvement in the areas we have been working on.” – Belmont’s Marie Lander
Records: Belmont 0-6; Lebanon 3-1
Oyster River 6, Coe-Brown 3
Key players: Coe-Brown – Tayla George (8-3 win at No. 3), Cameryn Chick (8-5 at No. 5)
Highlights/key moments: The Bears sent the match into doubles by taking a pair on the singles courts, but ultimately dropped their fourth straight match on Tuesday.
Records: Oyster River 4-3; Coe-Brown 4-4
Hanover 9, Pembroke 0
Key players: Pembroke – Nicole Carr (played well)
Highlights/key moments: Carr played well at No. 1 singles, but the Spartans fell at Hanover.
Coach’s quote: “Even though it was a rainy day, Hanover was able to host the match indoors. Hanover girls are a very strong team.” – Pembroke’s David W. Goulet
Records: Pembroke 1-6; Hanover 6-0