KAYLA SHAW got the shutout win over Watertown on Friday morning with a dominant 1-hitter including 13 strikeouts and no walks through 5 innings. (Dan Pawlowski Photo)
By DAN PAWLOWSKI
WATERTOWN — The Wakefield High softball team improved to 3-3 on the season with a 14-0, 5-inning, mercy-rule victory over Watertown at O’Connell Field on Friday morning.
The Warriors hammered out 16 hits in the win, jumping on the Raiders early with 4 runs in the 1st and 5 more in the 2nd to take a commanding 9-0 lead after two.
The offense was paced by freshmen Erin Girotti and Molly Burns. Girotti went 3-for-3 with 4 RBI and 2 runs scored while Burns went 3-for-3 with 2-RBI and 3 runs scored.
Continuing the freshman party on the flip side of the game was 9th-grader Kayla Shaw who earned the win with a dominant 1-hitter. Her shutout included 13 strikeouts. Watertown’s only hit came in the 5th inning on a bunt.
Shaw had at least 2 strikeouts in each frame and she struck out the side in the 2nd, 3rd and 4th, completely overwhelming Watertown’s bats with an untouchable fastball while locating her pitches perfectly.
The Warriors wasted no time in taking the lead as juniors Jade Waterhouse and Kathleen Gmelch walked and Burns later came through with her first of two RBI singles to make it 1-0. A passed ball strikeout brought Gmelch home and Girotti’s first of three RBI knocks pushed the advantage to 3-0 which moved to 4-0 when interference on the base paths was called on Watertown.
Wakefield’s 5-run 2nd started with a Waterhouse base hit. Sophomore Kathryn Sliski later crushed a one-out, RBI double to the gap in left center to make it 5-0. That opened the flood gates again as Burns reached on an infield single and an RBI infield single from sophomore Jackie Sullivan made it 6-0. With runners on 2nd and 3rd, Girotti continued her impressive day with a single, which scored both runners for an 8-0 advantage. Senior captain Nicole Dowd finished the inning with another RBI knock, pushing the lead to 9-0 after two frames.
With a comfortable lead, Shaw continued to make quick work of the Raiders, her perfect game in tact until a well-placed bunt ended it with one out in the 5th.
The Warriors added four more in the 3rd behind four more RBI hits from Burns, Girotti, freshman Chloe Seto and sophomore Julianna Dimare. Dimare added another RBI on a double in the 5th to account for Wakefield’s final run of the game.
Wakefield’s dominant performance came two days after falling to reigning Middlesex League and Div. 2 state champion Burlington, 12-6 at home.
Wakefield’s next game will take place at home this Wednesday, 4:15 p.m. against Winchester (2-5) at Meghan Burnett Field at Blatz Park.
