HS Roundup: Kaitlyn Curran, Cassie Flaherty help Granby softball get past Smith Voc (PHOTOS)
Published: 05-15-2025 10:00 PM
Modified: 05-16-2025 3:16 PM |
NORTHAMPTON — Kaitlyn Curran and Cassie Flaherty each thumped two hits and scored two runs in the Granby softball team's 6-4 win over Smith Vocational on Thursday at Sheldon Field.
Curran cracked two singles while Flaherty notched a double and single as the Rams rounded out their regular season with a victory.
“Cassie Flaherty, our three hitter, had a big hit for us to drive in a run early,” Granby head coach Mike Afflitto said. “She's been a middle-of-the-order hitter for us all year.”
Flaherty's RBI double during the third inning gave the Rams their first lead of the afternoon, then they swiftly tacked on two more in the frame for a 4-1 lead.
The Vikings knotted the score at 4-4 in the bottom half of the inning, highlighted by singles from Abby Desrochers and Maggie Lauder, but Granby plated runs from Flaherty during the fifth and Mabel Carillon in the seventh to regain the lead at 6-4.
Smith Voc had a couple chances to force extras during the bottom of the seventh as Desrochers reached base with one out, but Rams starting pitcher Meredith Bartosz retired the side with a fielder's choice ground ball, then a strikeout to end the game. The win pushed Granby's record to 12-6 while the Vikings slid to 6-7.
“The girls came ready to play,” Smith Voc head coach Alicia Carter said. “They all played together as a team, everybody was on point. We didn't have as many errors as we usually do, just some silly mental errors. They were ready to play and I think that was the biggest difference there.”
The Vikings' first batter of the game, Willow Hicks, sent a screamer over the Rams' left fielder's head and made it all the way around the diamond for an inside-the-park home run and an early 1-0 lead. Hicks and Desrochers were Smith Voc's stars from the batter's box as the duo distributed five hits altogether. The Vikings had eight hits outright as a team.
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“Honestly, if I was to say anybody played great, it's the whole team,” Carter said. “I can't pinpoint one player. Everybody stepped up and played a great game today.”
Bartosz won the battle on the rubber against Smith Voc's Grace Sampson as Granby's pitcher struck out seven batters and allowed just one walk. Sampson sat down two Rams batters on strikes, but showed heart by staying in the circle after being clipped by a come-backer midway through the game.
Hard-hit balls were present throughout Thursday's battle as both team's made some spectacular snags in the field to keep the score from ballooning out on either side.
“Katie Grabherr and Mabel, our four-five hitters, had some hard pieces, they maybe all didn't result in a hit, Jaidyn Roberge in our seven spot, she had two balls that she hit really hard, one of them right to their second baseman and our pinch-hitter Kiki Gaj came in, had a great at-bat, fouled off some pitches with two strikes, then hit one right at their shortstop,” Afflitto said. “Sometimes we talk about, that's just the game of softball. You hit it hard, it doesn't end in a hit, but it's a good at-bat… it was a really good softball game to be a part of.”
Both teams have games to come in the Western Mass. tournament, but opponents are still to be decided. Smith Voc will play a pair of consolation games while Granby likely locked up a top-eight seed in the Class D bracket.
Northampton 14, West Springfield 1 (5) — Lily Pelis (three) Emily Kajka (two) and Sasha Rodriguez (two) each drove in multiple runs for the Blue Devils offense in Thursday’s five-inning victory.
Greta Lepore and Jayda Alejandro added RBI hits as well, while Lepore struck out six and gave up the one run (not earned) in the circle.
SICS 13, Holyoke 0 (5) — Jade Maldonado ripped a double, however it was the only hit the Purple Knights recorded in a five-inning defeat on Thursday afternoon in Holyoke.
Holyoke drew five walks but couldn’t capitalize with runners on base.
Belchertown 16, Amherst 2 (5) — The Orioles continued their strong week, winning their third game by at least 14 runs in a decisive win over the Hurricanes on Thursday afternoon in Amherst.
Kina Roy smashed a home run late in the game for Belchertown, putting it away for good for win No. 10 on the season.
Amherst’s Corinne Charlebois blasted a triple and came home on an Arianna Roberts double, while Alana Texidor-Melendez scored the other ‘Canes run.
Wahconah 7, Frontier 2 — The Redhawks scored twice in the first but the Warriors didn’t surrender another run from there, as Wahconah pulled away with a Franklin County League West win in South Deerfield Thursday.
Ashley Taylor singled and struck out two, Delaney Fifield hit a two-run home run, Skyler Steele knocked two hits while Sophia Pinardi, Addie Ehle and Whitney Campbell each singled for Frontier.
South Hadley 5, Mount Greylock 2 — The Tigers improved to an even 8-8 with Thursday’s win, which was highlighted by Noah Carillon’s three-hit day and two RBIs from Gavin Carpenter.
Ryan Netkovick also added an RBI while Memphis Huertas and Lincoln Belsky hit safely for South Hadley. Griffin Soderbaum gave the Tigers seven strong innings on the mound, striking out four and walking one. Both runs he surrendered were not earned.
McCann Tech 8, Smith Vocational 5 — Erin Judd scored twice for the Vikings, but they couldn’t muster enough offense to get past the Hornets on Thursday afternoon.
Kaylin Dumas also netted a goal for Smith Voc.
Chicopee 14, Hampshire 9 — Mary Thibault notched a hat trick on Thursday afternoon, however the Raiders couldn’t consistently stop the Pacers attack in a loss on the road in Chicopee.
Emmie Collins and Dana Warren added two goals apiece for Hampshire.
PVCICS 5, Greenfield 0 — After both competing in singles matches on Wednesday, James Scott and Teddy Scott returned to their normal position at No. 1 doubles and cruised to a 6-0, 6-0 triumph as the Dragons swept Greenfield at the Davis Street Courts.
PVCICS’ Lee Ferguson (6-0, 6-1), Derek Ye (6-0, 6-0) and Gabe Loinaz (6-2, 6-2) picked up singles victories while Alexander Rachele and James Ferrer won 6-4, 6-2 at No. 2 doubles.
Frontier 4, Chicopee 1 — It was quite the day for freshman Ella Sibley, who outlasted Chicopee’s Leisha Caraballo in a three-set marathon that took nearly three hours. Sibley went from earning a 5-7, 6-4, 7-5 win to playing violin in Frontier’s strings concert, still in her tennis uniform.
Kayla Fagan (6-2, 6-0) picked up a victory at second singles while Esther Ehle and Aylen Shaw (No. 1 doubles, 6-2, 6-3) and Brooke Charest and Eleanor Wade (No. 2 doubles, 6-2, 6-2) rounded out Frontier’s winners.
Belchertown 4, Agawam 1 — Another doubles sweep, another match win for the Orioles, as Katie Collins and Edith Audette (first doubles) and Emma Kornbluth and Kyla Giroux (second doubles) combined to only lose two games en route to a pair of wins.
Gianna Picardi (6-0, 6-0) breezed through her third singles match and Mia Corish (6-2, 6-3) earned a win at second singles for Belchertown.
Amherst 109, Agawam 36 (girls) — Another absolutely dominant performance from the Hurricanes put an end to one of the best regular seasons in Amherst girls track and field history.
Elizabeth Sawicki won both the 100 hurdles (16.8) and the 400 hurdles (1:11.1) along with the pole vault (8-06) while Brooke Nedeau took first in the 800m (2:34.6), mile (6:18.3) and two mile (14:20.6). Nedeau stayed busy as she ran in the winning 4x400m relay team (4:42.6), along with Genevieve Dole, Ella Austin and Skylar Fox. Claire Fortin enjoyed a trio of first-place finishes, winning the 100m (12.8), the triple jump (36-01) and long jump (16-03 1/4).
Ruby Austin (400, 59.3), Fox (200, 26.7), Yairelis Bachand (shot put, 27-10), Juliana Albo (high jump, 4-10) and the 4x100m relay team of Fox, Liana Page, Ella Austin and Maddie Hockman (53.7) rounded out Amherst’s winners.
Agawam 88, Amherst 55 (boys) — Nico Lisle won the 800 (2:01.70), Calvin Miller took first in the two mile (11:39.70) and Logan Alfandari threw well to earn the win in the shot put (51-07).
The ‘Canes still fell to Agawam on Thursday afternoon.
Frontier 122.5, Mahar 22.5 (girls) — The Redhawks capped off an unbeaten season on Thursday to win the Intercounty League title, as Lilly Novak won the shot (28 feet, 10.5 inches) and discus (104-11), Hannah Davis took the triple jump (33-1.75), long jump (14-10) and 100 hurdles (16.8 seconds) and Josie Fosnot took first in the 400 (63.3) and 200 (28.3) in Frontier’s victory over the Sens in South Deerfield.
Rounding out the Redhawk winners were Bailey Cusson in javelin (97-11), Mia Christensen in high jump (5-2), Ella Whittier in the 100 (14.1), Sylvie DiBartolomeo in the mile (5:37.6), Maddie Antes in the 400 hurdles (76.3), Addie Moore in the 800 (2:37) and Liv Christensen in the 2 mile (13:08.1). Frontier won the 4x100 (55.4) and 4x400 (4:42.5) relays.
Frontier 87, Mahar 58 (boys) — The Redhawk boys also took home an Intercounty League title on Thursday, finishing the season unbeaten following a win over the Senators.
Winners for Frontier were Julian Adams in shot put (34-10) and javelin (132-5), John Reloj in discus (125-4), Garrett Dredge in long jump (18-5), Grayden Gifford in high jump (5-7), Adrien Pazmandy in pole vault (11-0), Kai Fripp in the mile (5:28), Ben Cachiguango in the 400 hurdles (56.8), Gus Radner in the 800 (2:27) and Ian Paciorek in the 200 (23.4). The Redhawks won the 4x100 (48.1) relay.