By Ken Chaisson
Hometown Weekly Staff
The fifth seeded Walpole girls’ softball team (14-5) continued their title quest for a state title on Tuesday June 2 against the 12th seeded Plymouth South Panthers (15-4) in a quarterfinal matchup at the Walpole Middle School.
A tough battle was expected coming into the game. Plymouth South beat Danvers 10-4 in the first round. In the regular season, they beat #2 seed Marshfield. Marshfield lost two games all year and one was to Plymouth South. But the Lady Timbs ran away with it winning, 7-2.
Senior captain and Bay State Conference (BSC) all-star Grace Todd was back in the lineup at second base after recovering from an ankle injury that caused her to miss the Wayland game. She showed no signs of rust as she went 4-4 at the plate with two runs and two RBIs. Plus, she ran circles around the Plymouth South infield.
Junior stalwart Ellie Boland again tossed a gem for the Lady Timbs notching 8 strikeouts, no walks and she went 2-4 at the plate. Boland has not allowed a walk in two playoff games.
Walpole loaded the bases in the first inning but failed to score. Then they had a runner in scoring position in the second when Abby Riley hit a laser to right that was snagged by the Plymouth South right fielder to snuff the rally.
Meanwhile, Boland was cruising in the circle after a leadoff single in the first.
Walpole broke through in the third inning. Todd singled and stole second. Caitlin Baker grounded to short. Todd hesitated near the shortstop. The ball went under the shortstop’s glove and Todd, hustling all the way, slid home to put Walpole up 1-0. Kayla Benner then singled to center which got by the fielder to setup second and third. A hit-by-pitch loaded the bases with two outs. Sienna Kreuzer hit an infield grounder which resulted in an errant throw and two runs scored making it 3-0, Walpole.
The Panthers got one back in the 4th inning. But Walpole returned the favor in their half of the fourth. Riley singled, stole second and Todd knocked her in with a single to center.
The Lady Timbs repeated the scenario in the 5th as Charlotte Barnett walked to leadoff, stole second and Kreuzer singled her home. It was now 5-1.
Plymouth South provided some drama in the sixth as the tying run came to the plate with the bases loaded. But Boland bore down and the Timberwolves caught a base runner napping off second to get out of the jam. It was 5-2 Walpole.
In Walpole’s half of the sixth, Eva Karacalidis singled and got to third on mis-handles by the Panther defense. Todd then singled her in. Boland grounded to third which was booted into foul territory. Todd hustling all the way slid headfirst safely into third. A sacrifice fly by Baker made the final 7-2.
