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By Mike Flanagan
Hometown Weekly Sports Editor
The Medfield High School softball team won its third consecutive game for its tenth of the season on Wednesday, blanking Dedham, 9-0, behind a complete-game shutout by senior captain and staff ace Alana Potts.
The Warriors (11-4, 8-4) got the bats going early as senior captain Arianna Tristani smacked a double into right-center field, followed by an RBI single to center by senior captain Molly Glasheen. The hits put the Warriors ahead, 1-0. Medfield was able to load the bases following a pair of walks, but Dedham avoided any further damage with a pair of strikeouts and an inning-ending pop-up to second.
Potts induced a pair of groundouts around a single, followed by an inning-ending strikeout to get Medfield out of the first inning unscathed. Singles by Potts and Tristani with two outs in the top of the second put runners at first and second. A pop-out to the pitcher by Laura Clifford left them stranded, keeping the lead at just a single run.
Potts induced a groundout to second to start the bottom of the second, but an infield hit put a runner on for Dedham with one away. A nice stab and throw to first on a grounder down the line by Caroline Mills made it two outs in the inning with the runner moving up to second. Potts K’d up the next batter she faced to again get Medfield out of the inning unscathed.
Julia Farrell led off the top of the third inning with a single to center. However, after advancing to second on a fielder’s choice, a pair of strikeouts left Farrell stranded and the game entered the bottom of the third, still 1-0 in favor of Medfield. Potts worked around a one-out walk and a stolen base in the home half of the third with a pair of groundouts. The game entered the fourth the Warriors still clinging to their one-run lead.
Katie O’Connor drew a walk with one out in the top of the fourth, but was left stranded at second following a fielder’s choice and a deep fly to center by Tristani. Potts worked a 1-2-3 home half of the fourth to keep the game 1-0.
The top of the fifth inning proved to be the game’s turning point, as a five-run rally with RBI hits coming from Potts, Glasheen, Mills, and Clifford blew the game open. Medfield extended its lead to 6-0.
Alana Potts (pictured) fires home a pitch during her complete-game shutout against Dedham on Wednesday afternoon.
Potts continued to work her magic in the bottom of the fifth, striking out a pair and working around a walk with an inning-ending fly to left. Medfield added a pair of runs in the top of the sixth and one in the top of the seventh. Potts shut the door in the bottom of the seventh and preserved the shutout as Medfield prevailed by the 9-0 final.
Medfield will look to keep it rolling when the Warriors host Ashland on May 24.
For funny and insightful sports analysis, follow Mike Flanagan on his personal Twitter @fLAno0.
