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By Michael Flanagan
Hometown Weekly Sports Editor
The Medfield and Dover-Sherborn High varsity softball teams wrote the latest chapter of their storied rivalry on Thursday afternoon, as the Warriors (8-6) were able to handle the Raiders (2-13) by a final of 18-0 behind a solid six-inning shutout performance on the mound by Medfield freshman Laura Clifford.
The Warriors jumped out to a 5-0 lead in the top of the second inning behind RBI hits by senior Elizabeth Cousins, junior Rachel Kornet, and junior Allison Carlin. DS would respond by putting runners on first and second in the bottom of the second when Allison Shulman and Jacquelyn LoDato drew two-out walks. However, a snare by Rachel Kornet at first base on a rocket of a groundball by Brighid McGuire got Medfield out of the two-out jam, preserving their five-run lead.
In the top of the fourth, the Warriors were able to extend their lead to 9-0 thanks to an RBI single by Cousins, an RBI walk by Mary Cronin, a passed ball to the backstop that scored Katherine Corzillius from third base, and a throwing error that allowed Anthony Cimmino to cross home. DS pitcher Tara Raftery was finally able to put an end to the rally by getting two Warriors to pop out in the infield and an inning-ending strikeout.
Clifford was perfect in the bottom of the fourth, getting a strikeout, a groundout, and a pop out to the catcher. The Warriors were able to put runners at first and second in the top of the fifth but were unable to extend their lead thanks to a nice snag at second base by Colleen Raftery, who fielded a tough hop and fired to first to end the inning.
The Raiders were unable to cut into the deficit in the home half of the fifth, and the Warriors would go on to add nine more runs and prevail by a final of 18-0. Maybe the most impressive part about this grudge match win for Medfield was their ability to bounce back with such great production at the plate following a tough 6-4 loss to Hopkinton less than 24 hours prior. The Warriors will look to keep it going when they travel to Westwood on May 18 while the Raiders will look to get back on a winning note when they travel to Holliston on May 22.
