McCann Tech Softball Shuts Out Pope Francis

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. -- The notoriously slow-starting McCann Tech softball team did all its scoring in the fourth inning en route to a 5-0 win over Pope Francis on Monday at DiSanti Field.

 

“I felt that we didn’t come ready to play,” McCann coach Robin Finnegan said. “It took us a few innings to get the bats going, and [Pope Francis’ Alexa Keough] is a good thrower.

 

“Once we put the bat on the ball, they made mistakes, and we took advantage of them. But against the really good teams, we can’t do that. Tomorrow, we have Monson, and we can’t come out flat like we did today.”

 

The Cardinals committed five errors to go along with three McCann Tech hits, including two infield hits, as the Hornets batted around in the bottom of the fourth to give pitcher Megan Goyette all the insurance she needed.

 

In the top of the inning, Goyette preserved a 0-0 tie after Pope Francis loaded the bases with nobody out.

 

An error, a walk and an infield single put a runner on each base for the visitors.

 

Goyette (nine Ks) got the first out on a ground ball to third baseman Aubrey Tetlow, who came home to catcher Alanza Quinones for the force. Goyette then got the next batter on a called third strike, and after going 3-0 on the next hitter, she came back with three straight strikes to retire the side.

 

“Megan kept us in the game,” Finnegan said. “I can count on her not to walk people and get us out of sticky situations, but we can’t put ourselves in those situations. You can’t always depend on her and put all the pressure on her. She’s only a sophomore.”

 

Hailey Miller started the bottom of the fourth with an infield single, and pinch-runner Ayrian Quinones stole second and moved up on a passed ball before Goyette brought her home with a single.

 

Aimee Dowling followed with a sacrifice, but an error allowed her to reach base and Goyette to go to third. Two errors on a swinging bunt by Amanda Rancourt allowed her and both baserunners to score, making it 4-0.

 

Kalley Vanuni then singled, moved up on an error, went to third on Tetlow’s sac bunt and scored on the fifth error of the inning.

 

McCann Tech (11-6), which qualified for the Western Mass tournament its last time out, has won six of its last seven going into Tuesday’s home game against Monson, the second of four games this week for the Hornets.