Lynch Leads Lee to Win Over Lenox

LEE, Mass. – The first runner Lee’s Bri Lynch faced this season reached base on an error and scored a run.

 

After that, she was lights out.

 

Lynch struck out nine and allowed just one hit in leading the Wildcats to an 11-1, five-inning win over Lenox on Monday afternoon.

 

The freshman surrendered just two walks and three three 1-2-3 innings, striking out the side in the second.

 

“She has six different pitches, and she works her butt off,” Lee coach Sam Barbarotta said. “She grinds. She works every day at, and we have another pitcher who does the same thing. I would have been confident with either one of them out there, and I’m really proud of how she pitched today.

 

“That was her first varsity game.”

 

Lynch also helped her cause with a double and an RBI in a 1-for-3 day at the plate.

 

The Wildcats (1-0) amassed eight hits in the win.

 

They started doing damage with a two-out rally in the bottom of the second.

 

After Taryn Bannon drew a leadoff walk, Makayla Schuerer singled to right. But Lee’s next hitter grounded to the left side, and Lenox shortstop Aliza Munch fielded the ball, tagged out Bannon and fired to Lilly MacDonald at second to complete the double play.

 

The bottom of Lee’s order then delivered a Karalynn Hopkins single and an Ariana Hall walk to load the bases. Kam Renata walked to drive in a run, and Autumn Schwab’s two-run double gave the Wildcats a 3-1 lead.

 

Lynch doubled and scored on an error in the third, and Lee tacked on three more runs in the fourth thanks to RBIs from Kylie Joyce (2-for-3) and Bannon.

 

After Lynch worked a 1-2-3 top of the fifth, Lee rallied for four runs to end the game in the bottom of the frame.

 

Renata had the big hit in the inning, doubling to right field and eventually scoring.

 

Barbarotta was impressed with the patience her team showed, working nine walks to go with its eight hits.

 

“One of the things that we talked about today was taking on the ‘We, not me’ mentality,” she said. “Last year was a work in progress, and this year they really trust the process. And they know that if they let those balls go by and swing at strikes, it’s going to be better for the team.”

 

Lenox had a couple of defensive highlights on the day. In addition to the double play Munch turned in the second, center fielder Hailey Ano had an outfield assist in doubling off a runner on a fly ball out in the first.

 

And Amaya Alger was doing a good job of limiting damage, stranding five runners through the first four innings, before the wheels came off in the fifth.

 

“We played Saturday, and she pitched three or four innings, and I think she was a little sore,” Lenox coach Justin Lenski said. “We only had a day to get ready. So, today, we put her out there to see what she could do, and she pitched well for us.

 

“She’s a seventh-grader, and she won the job and has been doing a really good job. Ava [Johnson] is our backup pitcher, and she’s been pitching really well. We’re going to get those two ready to go.”

 

Lenox’s field was not ready to go on Monday, forcing a move to Lee for the season opener. Wet conditions at home have not helped the Millionaires (0-2) in getting ready for two road games to start the season.