Thursday, May 8
TURNERS FALLS -- The McCann Tech baseball team had one bad inning and six good ones on Wednesday to come-from-behind and beat Franklin Tech 10-5.

Bryce Horsfall started for the Hornets, and he didn't make it out of the first inning. He went 2/3, allowing 4 runs on four hits.

That was the bad inning.

Now for the six good ones.

Ben Zieba relieved Horsfall and did a masterful job. He tossed the remaining 6 1/3, allowing just one run on three hits, while striking out 10 and only walking two.

McCann only had six total hits on the day, but it capitalized whenever it had baserunners. The Hornets scored many of their runs thanks to walks and errors. In the fifth when they were down 4-0, they rallied to score five runs, thanks in large part to three costly errors by the Eagles' defense. The visitors added one in the sixth and four more in the seventh.

According to McCann Head Coach George Canales, Zieba helped himself out at the plate, along with Tom Primmer, Ben Raimer and Art Zander, as they all contributed key hits in key situations.

"Zieba was fantastic," Canales said. "And he had to be, because our bats were kind of quiet. Fortunately, they walked

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us a lot, and they played sloppy defense."

The Hornets (9-4, 9-2 in league) picked up their ninth win of the season and fourth in a row. But more importantly, they gained a game on Tri-County League top dog, Smith Academy (10-1), which lost its first game of the season (6-5) to St. Mary's on Monday. This all sets the stage for the Falcons coming to town this afternoon. First place will be on the line as they square off with the second-place Hornets at 4 p.m.

"I can't remember the last time any McCann baseball team was playing for first place," Canales said. "The kids are so pumped up. The team spirit is extremely high. We're really looking forward to (today's) game."

Hoosac softball

LENOX -- Bombs away!

That's what the Hoosac Valley softball team was thinking at Lenox on Wednesday, crushing three home runs in a 14-1 rout.

The Hurricanes (5-9) spread the wealth, going deep in three different innings. Patrice Dermody got things going with a three-run bomb in the second. Hayley Dix followed with a solo shot in the sixth. Amanda Meczywor then capped the scoring with a two-run homer in the seventh.

Hoosac recorded 17 hits on the day. Dermody finished with three hits, missing the cycle by a triple. She also collected four RBI for the second straight game. Kaitlyn Faucher contributed three hits and three RBI, while Jess Robinson and Tori Hunt each had two hits.

The 'Canes scored four in the first, six in the second, one each in the third and sixth, and two in the seventh. Lenox scored its only run in the third.

Chloe McGrath was solid in the circle, tossing all seven innings en route to her third win of the season. She allowed one run on five hits, struck out nine and walked two.

"We played really good defense today, the bats came around, and Chloe pitched great," Hoosac Head Coach Mike Ameen said. "So this was a good win for us.

"I was trying to keep the girls focused, so they wouldn't look ahead to the Drury game. They did a great job dealing with this game first."

Hoosac hosts Drury under the lights tonight at 7.

McCann softball

HATFIELD -- The McCann Tech softball team is on a roll. The Hornets made it three wins in a row with a 16-15 edging of Smith Academy on Wednesday.

McCann (4-7) was very balanced, scoring at least one run in every inning. The Hornets plated one in the first, three in the second, three in the third, one in the fourth, three in the fifth, two in the sixth and three final ones in the seventh. Smith trailed 16-12 entering the bottom of the seventh, but its rally fell one run short, scoring only three.

The Hornets collected 22 hits on the day. Emily Serrano went 4 for 6 with a double and two RBI, while Katelyn Soucie matched Serrano's 4-for-6-two-RBI performance, but added a triple and four stolen bases, including a steal of home. Amanda Cariddi had three hits, including a double, triple and three RBI.

Katelyn Haring pitched all seven innings, allowing 15 runs (seven earned) on 14 hits. She hit three batters, walked five and struck out four.

"We finally brought the bats today," McCann Head Coach Robin Finnegan said. "This was an old fashioned slugfest. So it was a crazy game, and it wasn't pretty, but we'll take the win."

McCann will look to make it four wins in a row this afternoon when it hosts Southwick at 4.

Greylock tennis

WILLIAMSTOWN -- The Mount Greylock boys' and girls' tennis teams nearly completed a sweep of Lenox on Wednesday. The boys won rather easily 4-1, while the girls fell just short 3-2.

Matt Vaughan got things going for Greylock (9-0) at No. 1 singles with 6-0, 6-4 wins over Sean O'Brien. Dan Whateley took care of Dylan Nash 6-4, 6-4 at No. 3.

In between them was the match of the day, though. At No. 2 singles, Greylock's seventh-grade phenom Rohan Shastri battled Lenox's eighth-grade version in Avi Sternberg. It took three sets, but Shastri came out on top, winning 6-3, falling 6-7, but bouncing back to win the match in the third set 10-8.

"That was great for Rohan," Greylock boys' Head Coach Mary Vaughan said. "He's so young and he's having to deal with pressure. It can only help him to grow as a player. And he's a heck of a player already."

At No. 2 doubles, Matt Riley and Nico Walker defeated the team of Donnie Miller and Evan Anderson 6-1, 6-0. No. 1 doubles was the only match the Mounties lost.

On the girls' (3-6) side, they won every other match. The only problem was they started with a loss, and there were only five matches total.

Ruthie Thier picked up the first win for the Mounties at No. 2 singles with a 6-3, 6-1 victory over Emily Ryan. The sisters pair of Tijana and Tamara Samardzic captured the other victory at No. 1 doubles, winning a marathon of a match in five sets 7-6, 12-10, 2-6, 7-6, 7-5.

"No. 1 doubles was really the match of the year for us," Greylock girls' Head Coach John Jacobbe said. "Our girls showed resiliency that any coach would be proud of. They never gave up, and they were rewarded at the end with the victory."

Greylock hosts Mount Everett today at 4 p.m.

Drury tennis

NORTH ADAMS --The Drury boys' tennis team collected its fourth win of the season, beating Wahconah 4-1. The girls on the other hand, fell 5-0.

Brian Dowling defeated Bram Smith 6-4, 6-4 at No. 1 singles. Jared Gale followed at No. 2 with identical 6-3, 6-3 wins over Andrew Clem. Hussein Kazem completed the singles sweep with a 6-1, 6-2 victory over Adam Daehling.

"It was nice to see Brian bounce back against Wahconah," Drury Head Coach Whitney Suters said. "The first time he faced Smith at Wahconah earlier in the season, he lost 6-0, 6-0. This time, he not only scored some points, but he won the match as well."

At No. 2 doubles, the duo of Colter Suters and Luke Demers handled Dustin Lombardo and Stephen Peltier 6-4, 6-2. No. 1 doubles was the only match the Blue Devils (4-7) lost.

Drury is back in action on Monday when it hosts Mount Greylock at 4 p.m.