ROCKPORT— It may have been just the third game of the season for the Rockport softball team, but make no mistake about it, Friday's clash with Georgetown at Rockport High School was a huge game.
For starters the Vikings and Royals are always jockeying for position at the top of Division 3 of the Cape Ann League and the winner of the game would be the odds on favorite to win the league. Rockport and Georgetown also play in Division 4, meaning a win would be key for both teams state tournament prospects.
In the end Rockport, the defending CAL Division 3 champions, showed that they are still the class of its league with a 16-1 mercy rule shortened pummeling of the Royals. Rockport moves to 3-0 with the win, more importantly all three wins have come against Division 4 opponents.
"We knew this was a big game and the girls came ready to play and wanted to make a statement," Parisi said. "We were great in all facets of the game today, offense, defense and pitching."
Parisi was not exaggerating when she said her team was great in all areas the Vikings got production from all over the diamond on Friday as every player who stepped on the field made an impact on the game.
On the offensive end Rockport pounded out 14 hits, most of them hard hit balls, and batted around the order in two of the first three innings. Every Rockport starter had either a hit, a run or an RBI while eight of the team's nine starters had a hit and scored a run.
Senior captain and pitcher Kristin Turner, who picked up the win scattering six hits and allowing a run over five innings, also led the team offensively with three hits and a pair of RBIs. Sophomores Mollie Watson and Gabby Muniz had two hits and three RBI's each while Kendra Adams and Hannah Lorden each had a pair of hits with Lorden also scoring three runs.
You want defense? The Vikings had that too as Watson made a pair of tough catches on high pop ups in front of home plate. Senior captain and second baseman Amanda Chalmers delivered the defensive play of the day with a diving back handed stab up the middle robbing Georgetown's Shannon O'Brien of a hit.
"As a coach it's incredible seeing them play this way," Parisi said. "And the best part is they played well as a team. We didn't make too many mistakes today but when we did someone was always there to pick them up. Those are the things that make a successful team."
Rockport put the game away early with an eight run second inning where it sent 14 batters to the plate and delivered seven hits. Adams made it 1-0 Rockport when she singled in Turner who doubled. Adams later came around to score on a bases loaded walk to make it 2-0. Left fielder Meghan Tupper scored on a fielders choice one batter later to make it 3-0.
Two batters later Watson delivered a double to the gap plating two runs and came home one batter later on a Muniz single making it 6-0 before the Royals could even record an out in the inning.
Rockport plated two more runs in the frame on a fielding error and a Turner RBI double.
The very next inning the Vikings plated five more runs on RBI doubles from Muniz and Turner and another Royals fielding error making it 13-0. Rockport sent 10 batters to the plate in the five run third.
The Vikings capped off the scoring with a three run fourth inning, the teams last time up to bat as the game was called after the top of the fifth inning by way of the 10 run rule.
While the Vikings were extremely happy with the resounding win, and our now in the drivers seat when it comes to the CAL Division 3, but Parisi and her team know that there is a lot more softball to be played this year.
"This win was a great win and we are in a good spot right now at 3-0," Parisi said. "But we can't be satisfied this early in the season. We are still taking it one game at a time."
Rockport 16 Georgetown 1
at Rockport High School, Rockport
G: Cronin, 2B, 3-0-1; O'Connor, 3B, 2-1-1; Erlandson, P, 3-0-1, Newbury, C, 3-0-1, O'Brien, SS, 3-0-1, Nutter, CF, 2-0-0, Barbonaro, 1B, 1-0-1, Crateau, RF, 2-0-0, Cudmore, LF, 2-0-0. Totals, 21-1-6.
R: Han. Lorden, SS, 4-3-2; Watson, C, 4-3-2; Muniz, CF, 4-2-2; Parisi, 3B, 4-1-1; Turner, P, 4-3-3; Adams, 1B, 2-1-2; Tupper, LF, 3-1-1; Chalmers, 2B, 3-1-1; Hal. Lorden, RF, 2-0-0. Totals, 30-16-14.
RBI: G, Newbury; R, Han. Lorden, Watson 3, Muniz 3, Parisi, Turner 2, Adams 2, Lorden.
WP, Turner; LP, Erlandson.
Records: G, 1-1; R, 3-0.
Hoffa Mystery Still Fascinates After 4 Decades
Raw: 1 Dead in Shooting at Mo. Apartment Complex
Raw: Huge Fire Near Yosemite National Park
Raw: Obama Arrives in Berlin
3 Charged in Ohio With Enslaving Mom, Daughter
Obama Seeks G-8 Support on Syria
Raw: Volcano Erupts Near Mexico City
Kid Couture: Spending Big Bucks on Babies
Suicide Bombs Target Baghdad Mosque, Killing 29
Military Plans to Put Women in Combat Jobs
Solar Power Chargers in NYC Parks
Civil Rights Groups Sue NYPD Over Muslim Spying
Raw: First Lady, Daughters Enjoy Irish Sights
RAW: NSA Director Says 50 Plots Foiled
Boeing, Airbus Battle for Sales Supremacy
