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Health & Fitness

12U Dedham Girls Softball Takes Home a Hock Title!

Comeback win by DGS 12U Secures Hockomock Title!

After waiting a week to play since Mother Nature always seems to win against the softball schedule, the Dedham 12U took the field in Plainville last night against Franklin a bit nervous and antsy as they battled in an epic game to take home the title of the Hockomock Girls Summer Softball League. An early walk by Ashley Gilarde resulted in a close pick off at third that became frustrating when a single by Gianna Sciarappa had the girls thinking what if in a 0-0 game after one inning. Fortunately that frustration was stomped on by the pitching of Julia Holton over the first 4 innings. Facing only one more than the minimum first 12 batters, Holton was the beneficiary of some great defense around the diamond all game. Corinne Downey put on a gold –glove performance behind the plate that squashed the Tornados early attempts at “small-ball”, including an inning ending double play to end the fourth where she teamed up with a great hustle play with Jess Andrews at first. Also helping out was great coverage in the field in the outfield by Danielle McMurtry and 2nd and right field by Charlene Kelly, as well as both would also have solid at-bats throughout the contest that aided the effort and wore down the Tornados.

The 4th inning also brought the top of the order around again, and this time they went to work, as a walk by Gilarde was followed by a Sciarappa rope and a Holton walk that loaded the bases with no outs. That patience at the plate was rewarded after a wild pitch got Gilarde across with the game’s first run by walks for Downey and Jillian Girard and a single from Maeve Bolotte still that pushed the score to 3-0. Bolotte’s hit was impressive as she was still shaking off the shot at 2nd she knocked an inning earlier, a shot that almost knocked her down but managed to gun down a speedy Tornado runner. In fact the only thing that went wrong for the girls at this point was that the 2 run single from Molly Egan that made it 5-0 signaled the end of the inning due to run limit that most leagues follow,

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Feeling good with only 3 innings to go, the Tornados showed they wouldn’t cower, as despite a great catch from Vanessa Tannetta in right that saved at least 2 runs, the guests pushed across 3 runs to cut the lead, a lead that would have disappeared if not for a rifle relay from Andrews to Sciarappa to Downey to gun down a runner at the plate to end the inning.

The girls were unable to build back the lead, so as they entered the 6th inning there was a feeling of nervousness that Franklin’s confidence would be tough to overcome, and if it wasn’t for better defense it may have been. Franklin put together some solid at-bats to start the inning and before Dedham knew what hit them it was 2nd and third with no outs. Franklin would eventually tie the game and take the 6-5 lead, but fortunately a heads up play at third by Egan helped stem the tide and prevent more damage.

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Having lost a 5-0 lead and with only 2 at bats left it was quiet on the Dedham bench as Emma Pelkey stepped in. Having never bunted all season, Emma took her coaches quick “tutorial” a dropped a beauty down the line that got her to first and the bench and huge Dedham crowd back in the game. Now back to the top of the order it was Dedham’s turn to take back the lead. Gilarde, Sciarappa, and Downey would all get on and come around with help from well-placed balls by Holton, Girard, and Bolotte, and before Franklin could really “enjoy” their lead, they were facing the last 3 outs of their season from a 9-6 Dedham hole.

It wouldn’t be as fun if not exciting, and while Franklin did get a runner on and some glimmer of hope, Dedham would finish the season how they started and how they finished 10 of the season’s12 games….with a WIN!...and in case the season needed a “Hallmark” moment, the final out was a foul pop that nestled nicely into Downey’s glove after a great show of hustle by her got her in position.

Looking back over the last 2 months, the growth that Coaches Bolotte, Egan, and Kelly witnessed and helped nurture would have been rewarding for any coaching staff. The fact that there was a Championship trophy at the end of the day to hold and cherish will clearly give them and the girls memories to last and cherish long past their playing days!





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