Mounties Win First Game on McCann's New Field
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. -- The McCann Tech softball program waited a long time to play on its new field a the high school.
It will have to wait a little longer to get its first win on that field.
Miranda Voller went 5-for-5 with a pair of triples to lead Mount Greylock to a 12-2 win over McCann on Wednesday afternoon.
The independent game loss will not hurt McCann in the Bi-County West league standings, and it could help the Hornets down the road in terms of having more experience against a strong program.
But win or lose, it was still a great day for the school and team.
"It's been a long time because I was waiting for it about eight years ago," said McCann coach Robin Finnegan, who started her second stint at the Hornets' helm this spring.
"I'm glad that we got to play on the field. The girls were excited. We were pumped up about it."
Even though they were looking forward to christening the field, the Hornets were realistic about their prospects against the Mounties (5-3).
"We knew we had a tough challenge with Greylock coming in because we knew they could hit the ball," Finnegan said.
"I have a really, really young team. I only have two seniors. So this is a rebuilding year for us. I saw some good things out there. We keep improving every single game.
"And I like having games like this because the girls will be ready if and when we make Western Mass."
Mount Greylock's offense looked like it was in post-season form on Wednesday, scoring more than 10 runs for the second time this weeka nd fourth time this season.
The Mounties wasted no time getting the scoring started. They plated the first two batters to come to the plate in the top of the first.
Dana Clement hit a leadoff double and went to third on Olivia DiNicola's bunt. DiNicola stole second, and both came home on Voller's single up the middle.
Mount Greylock ended up loading the bases with nobody out, but a nifty double play helped stymie the threat.
McCann second baseman Allexia Andrews fielded a looping line drive behind the runner at first and alertly threw to Haley Molloy to double off the runner.
Michaela Malloy then got the third out to ground back to the circle and keep the score 2-0.
The Mounties tacked on three more in the second thanks to doubles from Samantha Betti and DiNicola and an RBI triple from Voller.
After the teams traded runs in the third to make it 6-1, the Mounties broke the game open with a five-run fourth. Four of those runs were unearned, but Voller delivered a two-run single in the rally.
McCann picked up runs in the third and the fourth.
Kayla Martin's sacrifice fly in the third cut into a 6-0 lead. Kate Koti's RBI single in the fourth made it 11-2.
McCann had a chance to score back in the first when the game was a lot closer, but with runners on first and second and two out, Haley Guest made a diving catch in center field to preserve the 2-0 lead.
McCann (3-4) will look to even its record on Thursday when it hosts Ware. That game will be played at the Hornets' old home at DiSanti field because of a scheduling conflict with the school's baseball program, which plays on an adjacent field. The Ware game is a makeup from earlier this season, Finnegan said, so it was decided to keep the JV baseball game on the school field as scheduled.
Mount Greylock has a tough test on Wednesday against Wahconah.