BROOKLINE – After a shutout loss at to Bishop Feehan home on Friday, the Newton North softball team had a chance to turn things around on Monday when they traveled to Brookline.
From the very first inning, the runs flew in for the Tigers. Newton North plated 10 runs on four first innings hits, on the way to a 19-0 road victory.
“We had some hits against Feehan but we weren’t able to push runs across,” Newton North coach Lauren Baugher said. “Today, we were able to make solid contact and get some runs which obviously it’s important. I was happy with how they were able to bounce back, seeing different pitchers and stuff like that. So that was good, it’s always good to get some runs.”
The runs from the Tigers came from all across the board. Every player in Newton North’s starting lineup scored on Monday, and seven of the nine tallied a hit against Brookline.
The win puts the Tigers at 11-7 on the season and with two games left, they’re guaranteed a spot in the postseason.
Though the weather has been fickle this spring season, Newton North has managed to get almost all their games. The lone contest they may not play is the final regular season game on Saturday in Wakefield.
“We’re supposed to get a Nor’easter so I don’t know what’s gonna happen,” Baugher said. “I feel fortunate because we’re gonna get every game in except for maybe Saturday. Other teams, it could really affect the tournament, because some teams might be in it when they wouldn’t have been if they had other people to play, and some teams might not get in because they needed another win.
“So people are doing like double headers right now. It’s kind of crazy, what’s going on.”
A relatively normal week this week provides plenty of benefits for the Tigers ahead of the postseason, they also have last year’s run to give them an added boost.
Winning 13 games last season, including a first round matchup in the state tournament, Baugher is familiar with the task awaiting her team when the playoffs start next week.
“I think we’ve had a lot of really strong competition, which has been helpful for us,” Baugher said. “We tried to schedules tough games and tough opponents so we would be ready for the tournament.
“We’ll probably have a scrimmage or two before the tournament starts and be ready.”
Before those scrimmages though, Newton North does have one final test.
On Wednesday, which is also the team’s senior night, the Tigers will hosts the Weymouth Wildcats and pitcher Jillian Ondrick. The junior commands an upper-60s fastball, helping make the University of South Carolina commit one of the most dominant pitchers in Massachusetts.
“I’ve heard she’s really good, I think we have faced very good pitchers,” Baugher said of Ondrick. “I think we have faced a lot of the best pitchers in the state, minus maybe a few this year so we’re excited so see what it brings.”
Newton North coach Lauren Baugher talking to freshman Ashlyn Baugher who stands on third base.Peyton Doyle
While the Tigers are ramping up for the playoffs, the 2025 season is winding down for the Warriors softball team.
Though they have just two victories on the year, Brookline’s coach Cat Davis knew that her first year in charge would be about far more than just the win column.
“It’s been a great experience for me, I just really like it,” Davis said. “I like coaching softball, and being at Brookline here, it’s been a good experience. Getting towards the end of the season, definitely wish there were more wins in the column but we were kind of expecting this.
“A lot of the things we have worked on are really going to help us in the next few years. Our outfields are catching, fly balls, our base running is pretty good. We’ve had long at bats. So a lot of the things that we’ve been working on since March, we’ve made improvements on, just don’t always see it on the scoreboard.”
Helping Davis this year have been her two captains, junior Lily Sampson, and senior Cora Tracey.
The duo has helped both coach their younger teammates, and keep the morale high throughout the year.
“Our two captains Lily and Cora play the infield and we’ve had some unexpected injuries too so they’ve been catching for us as well,” Davis said. “Cora really does a great job of making sure that people know where they’re supposed to grow and their leadership has really shined and grown since the first few games, she’s really found her voice, which has been super helpful.”
Brookline softball captain Cora Tracey hitting against Newton North.Peyton Doyle
For Davis, the work with Brookline softball goes beyond what she does coaching on the High School field. She knows that rebuilding the program has to start at the town’s younger levels.
“Some of the Brookline little league girls are going to come to our senior day on Wednesday,” Davis said. “Then, the Parkway League, some of our girls play in it over the weekend and they’re umping there and trying to spread the word.
“But, I have a plan for the winter, giving flyers to the Elementary schools. Little by little, I’ve connected with the two little leagues that the kids play in.”
Brookline’s senior night will be at home at the High School at 4 p.m. on Wednesday against Framingham. The Warriors will then wrap up the season by traveling to face the Newton South Lions on Friday.
