Young, Abington move on
Bats do just enough, dismiss No. 6 Case
It was far from a perfect effort but it was enough for No. 3 Abington to capture the Division 3 South softball title.
Senior Tori Young pitched a complete game while classmate Caitlin Murphy scored one run and drove in the other to lift the Green Wave over No. 6 Case, 2-1, yesterday at Taunton’s Jack Tripp Field.
Young controlled the Cardinals bats, consistently getting weak contact. The righty allowed seven hits, struck out four, and induced seven routine fly balls.
“Her changeup was really working today,” said firstyear coach Kelsea Cheney. “She was keeping it nice and low which we had been working on. It was nice to see it click.”
Abington (24-2) wasted little time providing its workhorse with a lead. Murphy smacked a one-out triple in the first inning before scoring on a sacrifice fly by sophomore Lilly O’Neil.
In the third, the Green Wave used similar tactics to increase their lead. This time, Lauren Keleher belted a leadoff triple before Murphy cashed in with her own sacrifice fly. It proved to be pivotal as Case (18-6) struck for a run in the sixth, before a pinpoint throw by Murphy in left field cut down the would-be tying run at the plate.
“Caitlin’s play in left was huge,” said Young. “That would have been the tying run and to have someone step up like that is really comforting as a pitcher.”
Young struck out a pair in both the sixth and seventh innings to close the book.
“(Young) did incredible,” said Murphy. “Especially under the pressure. I was nervous in the outfield and I was not even pitching. I can only imagine how she must have been and she performed so great.”
Abington started the tourney with a red-hot offense, outscoring its first three opponents by a 35-2 count. But with just eight runs in the last two games, Cheney is hoping for a resurgence.
“We slowed down a bit in the last few games so I am hoping it picks up for the next game,” said Cheney.
Taunton 4, King Philip 2 — No. 9 hitter Rylie Murphy drilled a two-run, basesloaded double in the sixth inning to break a 2-2 tie and help give the second-seeded Tigers (24-2) the Div. 1 South title at Tripp Field.
It is Taunton’s first sectional crown since 2007.
“It’s something you dream about as a kid,” Murphy said. “Being in the biggest game of your life, full count, two outs, bases loaded, bottom of the sixth against a very good team. … I just knew I had to swing if it was close.”
The other Taunton hero was freshman Kelsey White, who pitched a complete game and surrendered just three hits and one earned run against a Warriors offense that had averaged seven runs per tournament game.
“She is just so composed,” said Taunton coach David Lewry. “I love her demeanor out there on the mound and it makes a huge difference for us.”