AMHERST — There aren’t many teams that can hit as hard as Middleborough does when it gets on a roll. Sunday in the Division 3 state final, the Sachems put that on full display at Sortino Field.
Pounding out 13 hits and scoring in every inning but one, Middleborough rolled to a 15-3 win over Norton to win the school’s first softball title.
“We’ve been one of the best teams in the state, I think, for the last few years and they came out and proved that (Sunday),” Sachems coach Dan Sylvia said.
Tied at 2-2 heading to the third, the Sachems took over and scored 13 of the games final 14 runs to cruise to a title.
Leading the way was the heart of the Sachems order which Norton pitching never could slow down.
Alex Welch’s two run homer in the third, her fourth of the tournament, gave her team a lead it never relinquished as part of a five run third that saw Middleborough bat around. She also walked four times and scored all five times she reached base.
“Alex has that power and everyone knows it,” Sylvia said. “I know they made a mistake they’re pitching to her and she hit it out.”
Welch wasn’t alone in shining on championship Sunday. Melanie Rees had three hits and scored four times while left fielder Maddie Ryder was 3-for-5 with four RBIs.
Rina Chane also drove in three runs and catcher Paige Rooney had two RBI. The beneficiary of all that offense was Sachems ace Cassidy Machado, who struck out eight and allowed two earned runs in a complete game outing.
“The only thought I had coming in was ‘Cass and bats’,” said Silvia. “She went out and did her job and we did the rest with our bats. Norton is a really good team and we worked all week on getting ready for their pitching and you can see the results.”
Norton got two hits each from Sandra Fairbairn, Liana Danubio and Callie Dennett. The Lancers jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the top of the first but Middleborough tied it in the bottom half, setting the stage for the rest of the day.