“That’s always No. 1 for us — play clean, take advantage of any mistakes or extras that the other team gives us, and I think we capitalized a lot today on their mistakes,” said King Philip coach Kate Fallon-Comeau.
Lincoln-Sudbury (21-2) tied the game in the fourth on a wild pitch, but King Philip answered back in the fifth. KP loaded the bases with no outs on a single, a misplayed sacrifice bunt, and an intentional walk. Taylor Regan delivered a sacrifice fly to left to give KP a 2-1 lead.
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After letting L-S off the hook in the fifth, KP did not make the same mistake in the sixth. Two errors and a walk loaded the bases with two outs for leadoff batter Ali Gill (2 for 3, 2 runs), who delivered a two-run single through the right side for a 4-1 lead — and moved up to second on the throw back into the infield.
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Ava Kelley followed with a two-run single of her own, just past the outstretched glove of second baseman Sarah Danielson, for a 6-1 advantage.
It was more than enough for McCoy Walsh, who fanned a dozen. L-S had plenty of runners on as it did not go down in order, but Walsh scattered six hits and made the key pitches when she needed them. L-S went 0 for 5 with runners in scoring position.
“She’s always solid when we need her,” Kelley said of the sophom*ore right-hander.
King Philip scored three batters into the game when a misplayed ball off the bat of Taylor Regan plated Gill, who opened the game with a double.
In other Division 1 action:
Central Catholic 4, St. Paul 3 — Trailing, 3-2, in the bottom of the seventh against the No. 7 Knights (16-6), the No. 2 Raiders (19-2) loaded the bases with two outs, then plated the tying run on a swinging bunt by Olivia Moeckel. Katie Fox followed with a bloop single just over the shortstop’s glove to score the winner for the walkoff quarterfinal victory.
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“I thought we were going to extras,” Central Catholic coach Stacy Ciccolo said.
Once the Raiders knotted the game at 3-3, Ciccolo felt that her team was in a good place if the game required extra innings. But now, looking forward to the semis, she knows a tough challenge awaits: No. 1 Taunton.
Taunton has ended the Raiders’ season each of the past two years, but Ciccolo is focused on her team “playing [their] best softball, and hoping that’s good enough.”
Taunton 12, Methuen 2 — Shortstop Brooke Aldrich went 2 for 3 with a homer, two runs scored and four RBIs for the No. 3 Tigers (23-0) in a quarterfinal win against No. 11 Methuen (13-10).
Samantha Lincoln tossed a one-hitter, striking out 16 while walking two, and third baseman Bella Bourque led the 14-hit attack with three hits, including a triple, scoring twice. Catcher Aniyah Bailey and center fielder Molly Carnes added two RBIs apiece.
Division 3 State
Apponequet 11, North Reading 4 — Junior Caleigh Venuti (3 RBIs) and freshman Kate Suneson (3 RBIs) each homered, sophom*ore Marissa Kelly was 3 for 4 with a pair of doubles, three RBIs, and three runs scored to lead the No. 2 Lakers (20-4) to the quarterfinal win.
Senior Lauren Bernaiche spun a complete game, allowing four runs (three earned), on four hits, a walk, and 15 strikeouts against the No. 7 Hornets (17-6).
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Dighton-Rehoboth 19, Arlington Catholic 3 — Sophom*ore Cam Cloonan launched two home runs, and Haleigh Kelley and Emma Horrocks each blasted one for the top-seeded Falcons (21-3) in a quarterfinal win over No. 9 Arlington Catholic (17-6).
Edy Latour struck out five and earned the win for D-R.
Norton 1, St. Mary’s 0 — Liana Danubio hurled a complete-game one-hitter, striking out six, and also got two hits for the No. 4 Lancers (21-2) in a quarterfinal win against No. 5 St. Mary’s (15-5).
Division 4 State
Advanced Math and Science 3, Abington 1 — Maddie Glynn and Abby Asman each picked up two hits for the No. 4 Eagles (18-3) in a quarterfinal victory over No. 5 Abington (21-2). Ava McLeod struck out five over seven innings and drove in two runs in the win.
Case 11, Hampshire 3 — In a rematch of the 2023 state final, Megan Smith (three hits) drove in a pair and scored twice, Ella Preston tacked on two RBIs, and Bre Fontes launched a home run for her 100th career hit for the top-seeded Cardinals (21-1) in a quarterfinal victory over No. 8 Hampshire (14-9). Lila Alvarez struck out 12 to earn the win.
Eli Cloutier contributed to this report.
