High School softball roundup

Unhittable "Franchise" Nicole Mangaudis

Photos and text by Steev Riccardo

“The Franchise,” Pirates win eleventh

Nicole “The Franchise” Mangaudis was operating on all cylinders Friday (May 18)  and that only meant one thing for the Northbridge Rams, trouble. The Pirates had little difficulty taking care of their Southern Worcester County League rivals, winning convincingly 7-1.

“The Franchise” was nearly unhittable, allowing only two hits while striking out 11, adding to her league leading strikeout total.

Jamie Brodeur led the Pirates early, knocking in a pair of runs with a single in the bottom of the first inning, giving her team a 2-0 lead.

Above: Pirate Captains Nicole Mangaudis and Kayde McCarthy

Evelyn Marquis (.431), who had a monster game going 4 for 4 at the plate, drove home the third Pirates run on an infield single and it was clear sailing after that for the home team.  

Brodeur and first baseman Lauren Puishys each added a pair of hits for the Pirates, who improved to 11-7 and 8-6 in SWCL play.

Pirates Drop 1-0 pitcher’s duel to Uxbridge
Earlier in the week, “The Franchise” had another pitching gem but lost a hard fought 1-0 battle to a pesky Uxbridge Spartans team. The senior captain struck out eight and allowed only four hits in the loss on Tuesday (May 15).

Brodeur was a bright spot for the Pirates at the plate, going 2 for 2.

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Rams top Indians 12-3
The Shepherd Hill Rams used a five-run first inning and rode the pitching of Emily Reynolds to defeat the Bartlett Indians on Wednesday (May 16) in Dudley 12-3.

Rams Jess Schutrick

Samantha Miller led the Rams with two hits and three runs batted-in. Sarah Lamont, who is hitting a team leading .323, had a pair of hits in the loss for the visitors.

The Rams have a tough remaining schedule with tilts against Holy Name, Leominster, and St. Peter-Marian.

Indians drop final home game 8-0 to Cougars
The Lady Indians were beaten 8-0 last Thursday (May 17) by a very good Quahog Cougars team in their final home game.

Sophomores Dani Stone and Amanda Collins each had a pair of hits in the loss. Twelve-year-old seventh grader Lucy Orne, who continues to improve on the mound, took the loss for the Indians.

Bartlett's Lucy Orne

Despite the tough season, the Indians have a strong building block for the future, led by Stone, Collins, Orne, and a strong junior class which includes outfielders Sarah Lamont and Ashtin Morio, and catcher Tori Mcinytre.  

The Indians play their final game of the season May 23 at Uxbridge.

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