AMHERST — Coming up quick within the state championship was a reminiscence that had lengthy haunted Olivia DeLong. The scars from that singular second in 2021 had been nonetheless considerably contemporary. Yet in addition they motivated the crew in the course of the course of this previous season.
On Saturday, DeLong was handed the ball one last time, and the ace closed her Amesbury High School profession in type. The Boston University commit fired a whole sport shutout, permitting simply 5 hits whereas placing out 4 as second-seeded Amesbury clinched the primary annual Div. 4 softball title with a 1-0 victory over No. 4 Case.
“Having the past year’s experience helped a little bit,” stated DeLong. “But it’s a totally different ballgame when you start the game. You start, you finish. Like I said, I owe it all to Ella (DeLisle), but my defense today was very good (as well). That’s what helped us.”
From the beginning it virtually felt destined that DeLong and Case starter Hailey Berube had been in for a pitcher’s duel, they usually actually engaged in a single for the primary few frames.
In the underside of the fourth inning, Amesbury (24-1) lastly snapped the scoreless impasse, as Olivia Levasseur reached for the Indians. Moments later, her sister Isabelle roped an RBI single to heart, driving her in to supply Amesbury a 1-0 edge.
The lead was greater than sufficient for DeLong, who coasted into the ultimate inning.
“Halfway through it, I was going to take (DeLong) out and we were going to put Alana (DeLisle) in,” stated Amesbury coach Jacquie Waters. “She’s like: ‘No!’ She goes: ‘I’m going to finish this.’ That’s how she is.”
With the tying run at first, the senior glanced residence, and waited for her sign. She in the end got here away with a swinging strikeout, as Amesbury captured its first state championship since 2000.
Berube additionally had a formidable efficiency within the effort for Case, tossing six innings of one-run ball whereas placing out three. She additionally allowed simply 4 hits, to her credit score.
“It’s bittersweet, just because my best friends play on this team with me,” stated DeLong. “So it’s over after this, but we’re all still playing. It feels good, it definitely feels good. We’ve worked so hard every single day since we started in March…this is what we worked for, and we finished on top.”
Source: www.bostonherald.com