FALLS VILLAGE — The Housatonic Valley Regional High School Mountaineers softball team hosted the Wamogo/Litchfield Warriors’ co-op team on April 26. After a hard-fought battle between the two teams, HVRHS prevailed in a 9-4 victory.
Lawn chairs filled with fans from each side lined the foul lines near their respective dugouts as the action got underway. Temps were around 50 degrees when Mountaineer hurler Anne Moran took to the mound.
Moran had two strikeouts to help put the Warriors out in order in the first. Wamogo/Litchfield pitcher Diana Squires threw a pair of Ks as well to keep the first inning scoreless.
HVRHS’ fielders were on the money in the top of the second and secured three putouts. HVRHS’ Abby Hogan got the Mountaineers on the board in the bottom when she brought Daniela Brennan home to go up 1-0.
The Warriors responded in the third with a pair of runs to take a 2-1 lead. HVRHS’ Kaitlyn Cunningham tied it up in the bottom of the inning when she came home on a sacrifice fly from Grace Riva. Moran then retook the 3-2 lead with a colossal home run over the head of the Warriors’ center fielder.
In the fifth, Wamogo/Litchfield evened the score at 3-3, but Cunningham and Riva both found home for HVRHS in the bottom of the fifth to pull ahead to 5-3.
Savannah Dildy logged an RBI for the Warriors in the top of the sixth but then, up 5-4, the Mountaineers turned on the gas in the bottom of the inning.
“No matter what we do with the sticks here, we have three outs and a handshake,” said HVRHS Assistant Coach Peter Foley.
With Hogan and Abby White on base early in the sixth, Cunningham stepped up to the plate and brought them both home with the second home run of the game for HVRHS and an 8-4 lead. Moran scored the game’s final run shortly after.
The Mountaineers put the Warriors out in order in the seventh inning to end it.
“Two home runs. It was beautiful,” said HVRHS Head Coach Kaleigh Selino. “The other pitcher did fantastic. It was a tough strike zone, and she did great.”
“It’s a young team but we’re getting there. We’re figuring it out,” said Wamogo/Litchfield Coach Bill Simmons.
Offensively for HVRHS, Cunningham went 2 for 4 with a double and a three-run home run. Moran hit 3 for 4 with two singles and a solo home run. Abby Hogan went 2 for 3 with two singles. Moran finished with four strikeouts for the Mountaineers.
Squires pitched eight strikeouts for the Warriors and had three putouts. Shea Higgins hit 2 for 4 with two singles and scored once for Wamogo/Litchfield.
HVRHS softball (4-4) will be back on their homefield on May 8 when they host Northwestern at 4:15 p.m.
Anne Moran hit a solo home run against the Warriors. Photo by Riley Klein
Anne Moran hit a solo home run against the Warriors. Photo by Riley Klein
Anne Moran hit a solo home run against the Warriors. Photo by Riley Klein
