During the first week in May, Bromfield girls softball lost four games: Tyngsborough 12–0, Clinton 7–5, Quabbin 6–4, and St. Bernard’s 15–3.
The Trojans faced the Tyngsborough Tigers Tuesday, May 1, away. After their win, the Tigers stood at the top of the Mid-Wach League Division D with a record of 9–0.
Bromfield senior Kiley Russell winds up for a pitch. (Photos by Kent Boynton)
The next day, Wednesday, May 2, the Trojans challenged the Clinton Gaels. It was a close game, with Bromfield finishing two runs behind the Gaels. Junior Bryn Pierce and freshman Phillippa Harvey had one single apiece and batted in two runners. Bromfield had a total of six hits to Clinton’s 10.
On Friday, May 4, the Trojans finished close behind again. Bromfield took a two-run lead in the first inning and added another in both the second and third innings. The Quabbin Panthers had their first run in the second inning, but caught up to the Trojans in later innings. The Panthers scored one run each in the fifth, sixth, and seventh innings, and finished with two runs in the eighth. Quabbin had 12 hits to Bromfield’s four.
Bromfield fought St. Bernard’s Monday, May 7, and lost by 12-runs. St. Bernard belted a number of hits that flew past Bromfield outfielders. Trojan players occasionally fumbled the ball as well, giving their opponents the opportunity to travel more bases. When at bat, St. Bernard’s repeatedly hustled to tag base. Bromfield persevered in its defense, which included the pitching of senior captain and starting pitcher Kiley Russell, who allowed only seven hits in five innings. She struck out seven batters in the game.
Freshman Lauren Walling-Sotolongo singles to left field and drives in two runs against St. Bernard’s.
“We are a very young team,” said Coach Catherine Brow. “Our roster includes nine freshmen and a seventh-grader … those 10 girls make up more than half of my team … That alone makes it difficult for us to compete with these older, more experienced varsity teams.” The team will improve with practice and time, she said. “The girls have already improved significantly from where we started, and I am proud of the effort they have all been putting in.”
After its first four May games, Bromfield’s record stood at 1–6. The girls’ next game was scheduled for Tuesday, May 8, at Gardner.
Julia Deng is a Bromfield junior.
