Turners Falls softball advances as Gary Mullins records 800th career win

TURNERS FALLS ― The Thunder opened their Division V state tournament campaign with a comfortable win on Monday — a victory befitting not just of the defending champions, but of the relentless spirit behind Turners Falls softball.

No. 1 Turners Falls softball cruised past No. 33 Rising Tide Charter, 12-0, on Monday in the round of 32 in the Division V state tournament.

The win not only advances the Thunder into the round of 16, it also marks the 800th career win for Turners Falls softball coach, Gary Mullins.

“It’s very simple — it’s a bunch of great kids who are dedicated to this game of softball, some great assistant coaches… I have very little to do with this,” Mullins humbly said after the game. “It’s all about the kids and the assistant coaches, they do a great job.

“I’ve been very lucky, i’ve been able to stay healthy and show up every day.”

But in spite of the celebratory atmosphere of this momentous achievement, Mullins’ standards refuse to waver.

“We made some mistakes mentally that I was disappointed with,” Mullins lamented. “Score-wise, it’s pretty, but we got to play sharper if we want to win this (tournament), that’s for sure.

“Base-running mistakes, chasing balls up in the zone… we have stuff to learn and we’ll work on it.”

The defending Div. V state champions opened the game with a double from Mia Marigliano, who came around later to score on an RBI ground out from Marilyn Abaraua.

The Thunder then broke the game open in the second inning, capitalizing on costly mistakes in the field. Autumn Thornton led off the bottom of the second with triple to right-center, but a fielding error allowed her to round third base and score on the play.

The bottom of the lineup added on more pressure by loading the bases and McKenzie Stafford drove in a run after drawing a walk. Two more runs would score later in the inning on another fielding error before Madison Liimatainen drove in an RBI single.

After staying quiet in the third, the Thunder struck in the fourth even louder than before, pushing six more runs across the plate.

“(Winning by) a mercy is super exciting for us (to start the state tournament),” Marigliano said. “… it shows how good we are, it’s definitely a confidence boost for the next round (and) the round after that.

“I have full confidence in us that we’re going to win — knock on wood — and I think that all the other girls (on our team) can say the same.”

A senior who has spent four years on the varsity side, Margliano highlighted how valuable of an experience it has been playing under the Thunder’s coaching staff, led by someone with over 44 years of experience and 11 state titles under his belt.

“We have a coach who really cares about us,” Marigliano said. “… that’s what keeps on the legacy, is caring about the small things, practicing and having good coaches, having people who care, that’s what puts us (over) the others.”

Liimatainen finished with another five-inning, no-hit performance, striking out 12 batters and allowing just one walk. After the game, the two-time state champion shared a hug with the coach that has guided her through thick and thin over the past six years.

“It honestly makes me emotional thinking about it,” Liimatainen said. “I’m so grateful to be part of something so strong, Coach (Mullins) has built this team up from nothing. We didn’t have a state champion before him and he’s won so many as a coach.

“He’s put it so much time and effort, I think that just shows how much dedeication he has for the team and it’s really built me into a better person and a better player, seeing how far he works for us, to work as hard as he does for us… it’s just so amazing to be a part of something so strong and every milestone that he’s hit, seeing 800 (wins) is crazy.”

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