WORCESTER — Defeating an opponent three times in one season can be an onerous proposition at best, but don’t tell that to the Wachusett Regional High School varsity softball team.
The Mountaineer squad knocked off St. Paul High twice during the regular season campaign (2-1 and 8-2), but saved the best for last by whitewashing their rivals, 6-0, to capture the CMADA (Central Mass. Athletic Directors Association) Class A title at Worcester’s Rockwood Field on May 31. The victory raised the green-and-white’s unbeaten record to 22-0 with a matchup that featured exceptional pitching by sophomore Shayna Bakun, timely team hitting, and all-around stellar defense.
The team now moves on to the MIAA Division 1 tournament as the No. 4 seed, with locations and opponents to be determined. The Mountaineers earned the final matchup with the Knights with decisive victories over Tantasqua Regional and Leominster High.
“We’re playing great team softball. I like that more than power pitching,” said WRHS head coach Jason Lanpher. “I like that it’s a good team, and we’re playing good team softball right now. We’re built to succeed. Different kids are stepping up for us. It’s not just the same people carrying us.”
“This is so exciting. Last year we lost (versus Saint Paul), but we came back great this year and it feels really good,” said shortstop Tiegan Walsh. “Being undefeated is really a confidence booster, but we know how to stay humble and hopefully win it all.”
Wachusett would never trail in this one, and got the drumbeat going in the second inning when Walsh and Kendall Grady stroked back-to-back singles before racing home on a double by Gracie Granger.
The big blow of the evening came off the bat of Grady, who hammered a pitch down the left field line that sailed over the fence, scoring Walsh ahead of her. Walsh had reached on a Saint Paul error before Grady’s blast, and the Mountaineers were up 4-0 after three innings.
“That (homerun) felt good. It was really great,” said a beaming Grady. “I was hoping it was gone. It looked good. When I hit first (base), I knew it was over. I was screaming running around the bases.”
Wachusett would tack on a pair of insurance runs in the fifth when Walsh doubled to open the frame before Grady reached on a free pass. McKenzie Caron would reach on a fielder’s choice, plating Walsh, before Granger lofted a deep flyball to centerfield that easily scored Grady.
The real standout and team recipient of player-ofthe game recognition was righthanded pitcher Bakun, who fired a one-hitter that featured her retiring the first 12 batters before a bloop single dashed hopes of an even-more-magical outcome. Bakun, whose poise and command in the circle were on display throughout, finished the game with 14 strikeouts and just the one hit.
“All my pitches were really working,” said Bakun. “I was trying to move the ball around, which worked. I hit my spots, and if the ball does get hit, I have great defense behind me and a great catcher (senior Emma Britt) behind me.
“We’re feeling pretty good, but we still need to continue hitting, play solid defense, and keep our pitching going. We can’t let loose now. We still have to fight strong and keep it going.
“The offense has done very good so far. We’re hitting the ball where it’s pitched, and we’re having good base running, which is good. We have a good mindset on what we should be doing,” Bakun added.
“All my pitchers have carried weight this year,” added Lanpher. “Shayna and Taylor (Stuart) have carried the bulk of the weight. I can’t say enough about them. They’re both phenomenal.”
