DARTMOUTH — The Taunton Tigers are on the hunt for a three-peat.
A dominant pitching efficiency from Texas Tech commit Samantha Lincoln and well timed hitting helped the No. 3 Tigers squeak out a 2-0 victory over Hockomock League rival and No. 2 seed King Philip in a Division 1 softball semifinal.
The Tigers cut up the common season sequence 1-1 with the Warriors, and the 1-0 loss on May 22 was the staff’s solely loss throughout the common season. Head coach Michelle Raposo mentioned the setback was wanted for her staff to remain grounded and energized.
“I told the kids earlier in the season that loss was a good loss,” Raposo mentioned. “It humbled us a bit and dialed us in. We weren’t going to let them out-cheer us, and I am so proud of them.”
The Tigers earned two baserunners within the prime of the primary through walks, however King Philip pitcher McCoy Walsh locked in and shut the door. The Warriors received an preliminary increase off of a leadoff hit from senior Sarah Cullen, however Lincoln settled in after this blemish.
“I buckled down once that happened,” Lincoln mentioned. “I was playing too loose, so I locked in and got the next ones.”
She wouldn’t enable one other hit till the sixth inning, however the Tigers offense was combating the equally dominant Walsh. In the fourth inning, they broke by way of. It began when Ava Venturelli drew a stroll, after which a bloop single from Hayley Krockta drove her in. Brooke Aldrich adopted that up with a single of her personal, giving Lincoln a two-run cushion to work with.
“As an offense, you’re there to score the runs and put up the insurance for the pitchers,” Aldrich mentioned. “That takes a little bit off of them, and your defense takes it from there.”
The Warriors would battle again with singles from Jo Bennett and Libby Walsh within the sixth inning, however Lincoln squashed the menace. Aldrich practically made it a 3-0 sport within the backside of the sixth, however the smoked line drive was stored in play by the highest of the outfield wall.
Ava Kelley smashed a line drive into proper area to steer off the underside of the seventh, however a diving catch from Tigers proper fielder Mia Torres ended the doable momentum-changing hit.
“I know that they are behind me all of the time,” Lincoln mentioned. “It’s great to see it in moments like that when there are nerves and things get tight.”
Lincoln would retire the subsequent two hitters with ease to set a date with Central Catholic for the state championship. Raposo mentioned her staff is aware of what they’re taking part in for.
“It’s so hard to win a three-peat,” Raposo mentioned. “It’s very rarely done, and it’s never been done at Taunton High. They want it all.”
Source: www.bostonherald.com