Western Massachusetts Division I Semifinals – West Springfield 1, Agawam 0 – Final

Post-Game: We apologize for the interruption of this afternoon’s blog. Following a 25 minute rain delay, Agawam was shut down in the fourth inning. West Springfield then scored the only run of the game on a bunt single, sacrifice bunt, and then a double over centerfielder Witaszek’s head. It made the score 1-0 after four innings. That score held up and Agawam was ousted from the playoffs.

Please see more action and photos from the game in next Thursday’s Agawam Advertiser News.

Top 4: Rain is coming down and this blog-cast will stop. We’ll be back as soon as possible.

Bottom 3: Rain is still threatening as we start the bottom of the third Mindy Acevedo leads off.

First pitch fouled off. Circosta has only allowed one hit thus far. Bunt attempt, and it’s successful as the throw is late.

Mike: Anything you can do to get it started for your team in a low scoring game like this. Nice bunt.

Kim Machia fouls the ball off and Wieners catches it for one out. Amanda Butler, the number nine hitter, at the plate. Pitch just a bit high and it’s 1-0. Another ball and then a strike and it’s 2-1. Bunt at home plate and Butler is thrown out 2-4 with Rheault covering first, two outs.

Back to the top of the order and Hill with a runner on second. We have just heard thunder. The umpires will stop the game at the first sight of lightning. Pop to short and the inning is over with one left.

Thunder still making noise, we have no score after three innings.

Top 3: Brittany Discher leads off. Swing and a miss, gased right by her. Grounder into the hole between third and short and Discher is aboard for the pitcher Circosta.

Bunt fouled off and it’s 1-1. Foul and it’s 1-2. Popped up and caught in centerfield. One down.

Ollari back up. She grounded to second last time up. Two foul balls.

NOTE: Rain is nearby and this blog will terminate if we have rain.

1-2 to Ollari with Discher at first. Ollari hangs in with the change up and laces the ball to left field. First and second, one out, and Rheault at the plate.

Swing at high heat and it’s 0-2. Gas and Rheault strikes out swinging. Leaving it to Wieners, who hit a single up the middle last time. High, ball one. High again, ball two. Pitkin pitching carefully to the three hitter. Next pitch, low strike, 2-1. Popped foul and it’s 2-2. Fly ball to short left-center, caught on the shoe strings in center field and we’re through in the top of the third. Still no score.

Bottom 2: Taylor Saimeri at the plate for West Side. She struck her out and Circosta has her first K of the day. One down.

Tiffany Tompson at the plate for the Terriers. First two pitches out, 2-0. Another pitch on the outside swung on and missed. Check swing, ump rules she went, 2-2. Fly ball. Caught. Two down.

Next up is Caitlin Patruski. She builds a 2-1 count. Fouled off and the count evens 2-2. Fly ball to left, caught by Johnson, and it’s a 1-2-3 inning.

Mike: Great game. This going to come down to the last inning. We might see extra innings in this one. You have to love good pitching and solid defense by both teams

Top 2: Ally Witaszek leads off for Agawam on the left side of the plate. First pitch fouled off. Next pitch high and in, whizzed right by her face. Witazsek takes a high pitch and finds the gap in right-center. She runs for a while and ends up at third with a leadoff triple.

Mike: Frozen rope to the right-center. She was off to the races on that one.

Jess Uschmann at the plate. Bunt attempt, but it fails as Witaszek doesn’t score and Uschmann is out third to first. Nicole Johnson at the plate with one down.

First two pitches outside the strike zone. Grounded back to the mound, pitcher goes to first and Witaszek’s off to home. Return home from first is in time and it’s a doube play. 1 1/2 done, no score.

Mike: Stand up defense by West Side, good return throw home to keep it scoreless.

Bottom 1: Vicky Hill at the plate. She will be facing Danielle Circosta, one member of Agawam’s powerful three-girl rotation. Bunt attempt on the second pitch. Ollari charges from third and throws to Rheault covering first, one down.

Alyssa Torres at the plate. Circosta splits a pair and it’s 1-1. Next pitch low for a ball. Rise ball fouled off and it’s 2-2. Low and in and it’s a full count. Next pitch is socked into a center for a base hit.

Mike: Solid piece of hitting right up the middle.

Next hitter is Kelsey Mantoni. The pitch, soft line drive up the middle, stabbed by Circosta for the out, and the throw to first to double off Torres and that’s the inning.

Mike: Great presence of mind by the pitcher to stay with that ball and make the play.

We’ve played one, no score.
Top 1:We have Maurisa Ollari to lead off for the Brownies, who are looking to win the rubber match of the season between these two teams.

First pitch upcoming and it’s ground to second base. The play made by Machia and there is one out. Faith Rheault, a freshman, stands in on the left side and Pitkins delivers a pair of strikes to start. Defensive swing and Rheault pops out foul to third. Two down.

Freshman catcher Rielly Wieners stands in. Pitkin delivers a ball. Next pitch is fouled off, 1-1. Low fastball and Wieners grounds it up the middle. Courtesy runner in at first base, Lauren Brodeur, a freshman. Rebecca Fondakowski comes to the plate. She is DHing today for Samantha Butt, the shortstop.

Two down, runner at first, 0-1 to Fondakowski. Another foul ball and it’s 0-2. Wild pitch high and outside and Brodeur takes second, 1-2 the count. Next pitch just a bit outside for a ball, she tried the corner and missed. 2-2. Rise ball and Fondakowski strike out and the inning is over. One hit, one left on, it’s Brownies 0, West Springfield coming up.

We’re set to go with the first pitch. I’m also joined today by my good friend and sport enthusiast Micheal J. Fox, who will be providing some color commentary throughout today’s game, so I thank Mike for joining me. Umpires are at home plate and the teams are going over the ground rules.

Starting Lineups:
No. 3 Agawam
Maurisa Ollari 3B
Faith Rheault 2B
Rielly Wieners C
Rebecca Fondakowski DH
Ally Witaszek CF
Jess Uschmann 1B
Nicole Johnson LF
Brittany Discher RF
Danielle Circosta P
Samantha Butt SS (Flex)

No. 2 West Springfield
Hill 3B
Torres LF
Martone SS
Saimeri RF
Tompson DH
Patruski 1B
Acevedo C
Machia 2B
Butler CF
Pitkin P (Flex)

Pre-game: Good afternoon everyone and welcome to this afternoon’s live blog of the Western Massachusetts Division I Softball Tournament Semifinals here at Elms College in Chicopee.

Hello again, I am your live blogger, Turley Publications correspondent Greg Scibelli

Tonight, I will be bringing the action between No. 3 Agawam and No. 2 West Springfield. Both teams have won quarterfinal match ups at this point and both are primed for a rematch of last year’s semifinals in which the Terriers won 5-2.

Many could call this tournament now the Valley League tournament, as the four remaining teams in the tournament all hail from the Valley League. The other semifinal pits No. 1 Amherst, perfect this season, against No. 4 Minnechaug. That game was rained out last night and will be made up tomorrow evening. Miaa.net still have the final set for Saturday at a time to be determined.

I’ll be bringing you the action periodically and all you have to do is update your web browser every few minutes to keep current with the action. I hope you really enjoy the blog and the starting lineups and more will be coming up shortly.

As always, this blog cast is brought to you by Turley Publications, your best source for local news and sports in Western Massachusetts.

The lineups and more in just a few minutes:

Western Massachusetts Softball Seedings

10:55 – There were changes made to the Division III Standings with Granby being moved from it’s original position of No. 2 to No. 4. As a result, Franklin Tech. and Westfield Voc. moved up one spot. Log on to www.miaa.net in the next few days to check officials dates and times.

Also, semifinals will be held on June 7, 9, and 10 at Elms College. The finals are currently scheduled for June 12 at UMass Amherst.

Note: Many of the TBA’s on the schedule are due to schools determining field and athlete availability because of graduation and other end of year activities.

Division III Seedings:
1. Turners Falls (16-4)
2. Franklin Technical (16-4)
3. Westfield Vocational-Technical (13-3)
4. Granby (15-5)
5. Mount Everett (12-8)
6. Renaissance (13-7)
7. Ware (10-8)
8. Pathfinder (11-9)
9. Lee (10-10)
10. Hopkins Academy (10-9)
11. Putnam (10-10)

Preliminary Round:
No. 11 Putnam at No. 6 Renaissance – 6/3 – 4:00
No. 10 Hopkins Academy at No. 7 Ware – 2:30 p.m.
No. 9 Lee at No. 8 Pathfinder – 6/3 – 4 p.m.

Quarterfinals:
No. 9 Lee/No. 8 Pathfinder at No. 1 Turners Falls – TBA – TBA
No. 10 Hopkins Academy/No. 7 Ware at No. 2 Franklin Technical – TBA – TBA
No. 11 Putnam/No. 6 Renaissance at No. 3 Westfield Vocational-Technical – TBA – TBA
No. 5 Mount Everett at No. 4 Granby – TBA – TBA

Division II Seedings:
1. Wahconah (19-1)
2. Frontier (18-2)
3. Hampshire (16-2)
4. Monson (17-3)
5. Drury (13-7)
6. Hoosac Valley (15-5)
7. Palmer (14-6)
8. Belchertown (12-8)
9. Easthampton (13-7)
10. Monument Mountain (11-7)
11. South Hadley (9-11)

Preliminary Round:
No. 11 South Hadley at No. 6 Hoosac Valley – 6/3 – 4 p.m.
No. 10 Monument Mountain at No. 7 Palmer – Friday, June 4 4 p.m.
No. 9 Easthampton at No. 8 Belchertown – Thursday, June 3 2:30 p.m.

Quarterfinals:
No. 9 Easthampton/No. 8 Belchertown at No. 1 Wahconah – TBA – TBA
No. 10 Monument Mountain/No. 7 Palmer at No. 2 Frontier – 6/5 – TBA
No. 11 South Hadley/No. 6 Hoosac Valley at No. 3 Hampshire – TBA – TBA
No. 5 Hoosac Valley at No. 4 Monson – Thursday, June 3 2:30 p.m.

Division I Seedings:
1. Amherst (20-0)
2. West Springfield (17-3)
3. Agawam (16-4)
4. Minnechaug (12-8)
5. Chicopee (12-8)
6. Cathedral (11-9)
7. Pittsfield (13-7)
8. Westfield (11-9)
9. Central (11-9)
10. Longmeadow (9-11)

Preliminary Round:
No. 10 Longmeadow at No. 7 Pittsfield – Saturday, June 5 – TBA
No. 9 Central at No. 8 Westfield – 6/3 – 4:30 p.m.

Quarterfinals:
No. 9 Central/No. 8 Westfield at No. 1 Amherst – 6/5 – TBA
No. 10 Longmeadow/ No. 7 Pittsfield at No. 2 West Springfield – 6/5 – TBA
No. 6 Cathedral at No. 3 Agawam – TBA – TBA
No. 5 Chicopee at No. 4 Minnechaug – TBA – TBA

10:05 – There is a delay in the start of the meeting as not all of the parties have arrived yet. Keep checking back for the beginning of the meeting…

Open: Good morning softball enthusiasts!! Welcome to this morning’s live blog of the softball seedings for the Western Massachusetts Division I, II, and III softball tournaments. I’m your blogger, Turley Publications Correspondent Greg Scibelli.

This morning, I will bringing to you live, as it happens, the seeding and tournament schedule information for all three softball tournaments. I will also bring you any other news that occurs at these meetings.

Currently, I am live at West Springfield High School for the seedings meeting, which is set to begin around 10:00 a.m. Please stay tuned and continue to update and refresh your Internet browser as the seeds come in.

Remember that today’s live blog is being brought to you by Turley Publications, your best source for local news in Western Massachusetts.

Thank you for joining me with this morning’s blog and I’ll have more coming shortly.

Please also keep in mind that Turley Publications sports editor Dave Forbes will have the baseball seedings on his site later today at daveforbessports.wordpress.com. Dave also has updated tournament information for boys and girls lacrosse.