WMass Softball Top 20: Hampshire stands strong, Pittsfield continues climb

Previous Rankings: Mar. 27, Apr. 3, Apr. 10, Apr. 17, Apr. 24, May 1

1. Hampshire (14-1; Last Rank: 1)
2. Turners Falls (11-4; 3)
3. Frontier (10-4; 5)
4. Greenfield (10-4; 4)
5. Westfield (8-5; 2)
6. Lenox (13-0; 6)
7. East Longmeadow (10-3; 7)
8. Longmeadow (7-5; 8)
9. South Hadley (7-4; 9)
10. Agawam (8-5; 10)
11. Franklin Tech (11-3; 12)
12. Hopkins Academy (12-3; 11)
13. Pittsfield (6-7; 14)
14. Taconic (6-6; 13)
15. Hoosac Valley (10-2; 15)
16. Wahconah (6-8; 16)
17. Minnechaug (5-7; 17)
18. Monument Mountain (7-3; 18)
19. Mount Greylock (3-9; 19)
20. Springfield Central (13-0; 20)

Most of last week’s games were rained out, setting up a mad dash as teams scramble to use the final days of the regular season to secure their position for the postseason.

Hampshire softball remains at the top of the standings after defeating Westfield on May 1 and a win over Turners Falls on Wednesday. The Raiders suffered their first loss of the season to Wachusett on Saturday, but the team responded well against the Thunder, showing no signs of slowing down.

But the same cannot be said for Westfield, as the Bombers dropped their second game of the week on Wednesday, losing to Pittsfield.

Frontier and Greenfield move up in turn, with the Red Hawks exacting their revenge on the Green Wave on May 1 with a walk-off win.

Franklin County Tech also got its taste of revenge on Wednesday, defeating Hopkins Academy after the Eagles’ loss to the Golden Hawks on Apr. 17. Three wins last week for the Eagles put their win streak at seven games since their last loss.

Pittsfield’s late-season surge hasn’t been perfect. Losses Greenfield on Saturday and Agawam on Tuesday have hampered the Generals’ progress, but their victory over the Bombers was a return to form for an offense that has the ability to challenge the best. The Generals also defeated Minnechaug on Friday in a raucous, back-and-forth battle with the Eagles.

Key Games of the Week

Thursday, May 8

• No. 8 Longmeadow @ No. 9 South Hadley, 4 p.m.
• No. 11 Franklin Tech @ No. 4 Frontier, 4 p.m.
• No. 17 Minnechaug @ No. 10 Agawam, 4:45 p.m.

Friday, May 9

• No. 4 Greenfield @ No. 5 Westfield, 4 p.m.
• No. 9 South Hadley @ No. 4 Frontier, 5 p.m.
• No. 17 Minnechaug @ No. 1 Hampshire

Saturday, May 10

• No. 19 Mount Greylock @ No. 15 Hoosac Valley, 12 p.m.
• No. 10 Agawam @ No. 4 Greenfield, 12 p.m.
• No. 14 Taconic @ No. 16 Wahconah, 3 p.m.

Sunday, May 11

• No. 8 Longmeadow @ No. 5 Westfield, 3 p.m.

Monday, May 12

• No. 5 Westfield @ No. 10 Agawam, 4 p.m.
• No. 9 South Hadley @ No. 7 East Longmeadow, 4 p.m.
• No. 15 Hoosac Valley @ No. 14 Taconic, 4 p.m.

Tuesday, May 13

• No. 13 Pittsfield @ No. 9 South Hadley, 4:30 p.m.
• No. 17 Minnechaug @ No. 5 Westfield, 6 p.m.
• No. 19 Mount Greylock @ No. 4 Greenfield, 6 p.m.
• No. 14 Taconic @ No. 2 Turners Falls, 7 p.m.

Wednesday, May 14

• No. 14 Taconic @ No. 10 Agawam, 4 p.m.
• No. 19 Mount Greylock @ No. 13 Pittsfield, 4:30 p.m.
• No. 2 Turners Falls @ No. 9 South Hadley, 4:30 p.m.
• No. 1 Hampshire @ No. 4 Greenfield, 6 p.m.

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