Dubay sisters lift Hampshire softball past Turners Falls

TURNERS FALLS ― The Dubay sisters did it all for the Raiders on Wednesday night.

Whether it was on the field, at the plate, between the base paths and from the mound, each of the three sisters played a key role in pushing No. 1 Hampshire softball past No. 3 Turners Falls, 5-1.

Both pitchers started strong, with Madison Liimatainen allowing a lone single and Ryanne Dubay surviving an early scare from Liimatainen, who tagged a deep fly ball to center field. Rachel Hickox did well to track it down and make the out just short of the fence.

Liimatainen and Dubay matched each other with one-two-three frames in the second. The Thunder’s senior sat the visitors down in order again in the third and Dubay kept it rolling by striking out the next two batters before allowing a two-out double to Mia Marigliano, extending the inning. But after intentionally walking Liimatainen, Dubay settled down and forced the ground out from the next batter to end the threat and the inning.

The fourth inning breezed by without much noise and the fifth inning seemed to be rolling the same way after two ground outs to start the Raiders’ frame.

But after Caroline Payson’s infield single extended the inning, Hickox began the at-bat that changed the game. She watched the first four pitches sail by, taking a 2-2 count with Payson advancing to second on a passed ball.

Not willing to give up an inch, Hickox fouled off four straight pitches before taking ball three, which passed the catcher and allowed Payson to advance again.

After fouling off two more tough pitches, Hickox took the 12th pitch of the at-bat for ball four, a well-deserved walk that gifted Kalin Dubay with a golden opportunity to boost her team.

Kalin did just that, driving an RBI single up the middle and give her team the game’s first lead.

“I really wanted to win this game, I wanted to do this for the team,” Kalin said. “… if there was a runner on, I wanted to move that runner. I wanted to get them in scoring position (so) either the next batter or (myself can bring them in).”

Kalin’s scoring contribution remained the game’s only run until the bottom of the sixth. After Liimatainen and Madison Dietz worked themselves on base with back-to-back, four-pitch walks, Marilyn Abaraua dropped a soft bunt in front of home plate. The Raiders did not field it cleanly and the throw to first passed the first basemen, allowing Liimatainen to round third and sprint home, tying the game.

Raiders softball coach Brian McGan showed immense trust in Ryanne Dubay, opting to intentionally walk the next batter in the hopes of creating a force out at home. However, with the bases loaded and still no outs, the odds of getting out of this jam without allowing another run seemed slim. But Ryanne tightened the screws and rediscovered her rhythm, striking out the next two batters.

Ryanne started the next batter with a low pitch that skipped in front of home plate and seemed to get away from Reagan Dubay behind the plate. But Reagan recovered well, snatching the ball off the ground and firing a throw to third, catching Dietz in a rundown. Dietz did not give up her out without a fight, and was nearly rewarded for it after safely sliding back to third.

But the Raiders’ did not give up on the play. Seeing Abaraua off the bag on second, Lucy Trombely fired a throw to Kalin Dubay on second. Kalin caught the throw and chased the runner down to make the inning-ending tag.

The Raiders’ game awareness would pay off again in the seventh. After Hickox reached on a two-out walk and Kalin delivered another hit to advance the runner to third, Hickox capitalized on a passed ball, bursting down the third base line and beating the tag to score the go-ahead run.

Kalin smartly advanced to third on the same play, but not without the Thunder attempting to make a play at third.

But the throw to third flew past the third basemen, allowing Kalin enough time to sprint home.

“Just realizing where the ball is at that moment (and reacting),” Kalin said.

The Raiders bought themselves insurance runs later in the frame when Reagan Dubay drilled a two-RBI double to right-center.

“I was focusing on if there was a runner on base, where could I take it into a gap (and) how hard I could hit it into the gap,” Reagan said. “… I always try and be confident up at the plate, even if I’m having a bad day. Confidence is key when you’re up at bat.”

Hampshire (14-1) will play its final home game of the regular season on Friday, May 9 against Minnechaug at 5:15 p.m.

“It’s not an individual thing on our team, it’s always what ‘we’ did,” McGan said after the game, proud of the collective effort it took to get this win. “That’s pretty much the main goal… they’re just part of that little machine that we try to keep going.”

Turners Falls (11-4) will look to bounce back when the Thunder visit Blackstone Valley Reg. Tech on Monday, May 12 at 4:30 p.m.

This post was originally published on this site