Softball: Hopkinton weathers Bishop Brady’s comeback in 7-4 win at Rollins Park

By ERIC RYNSTON-LOBEL

Monitor staff

Published: 05-05-2023 6:03 PM

CONCORD — Bishop Brady’s already surpassed its win total from 2022, when the Giants finished 2-14. But a slow start on Thursday against Hopkinton doomed them in a 7-4 loss.

The Hawks jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the top of the first and led 7-2 through four innings. Brady made it interesting in the bottom of the sixth, tacking on two more runs to inch within three. That was the closest the score would get.

Here are three notes from the Hawks win on the road:

Hopkinton uses speed and small ball on offense

The Hawks faced Brady pitcher Payton Bryson last year and knew her ability to change speeds in the circle can cause hitters problems.

The solution? Put the ball in play as much as possible.

Hopkinton did just that in the first inning when senior Maddie Carmichael led off the game with a single and junior Lizz Holmes followed with a perfect bunt single to set up the three-run inning.

Then in the fourth, freshman Paige Boudette walked, stole second and came around to score because of two throwing errors by Brady. Later that inning, freshman Annie Morrall stole second after she was hit by a pitch, advanced to third on an E2 and scored on a triple from Carmichael. Holmes subsequently executed another perfect bunt that allowed Carmichael to score, expanding the lead at that point to 6-1.

“There are times where you just have to put the ball in play,” Hopkinton head coach Dan Meserve said. “By doing that, good things happen.”

Holmes diving play ends the game

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On the ESPN channel, they are called web gems. For Hopkinton they’re called “Gatorade plays.” With two outs in the bottom of the seventh, Brady’s Margaret Sheehan lined a rope to right center field that Holmes laid out for and corralled to end the game.

It was much of an exclamation point on a win as a team could have.

“You make a play that was a pretty damn good play. That’s a Gatorade play,” said Meserve. “That is probably our first one in a while that we have made. They have to realize, you just have to go for the ball, and good things are going to happen when you do that.”

The win puts the Hawks back on track after losing back-to-back games, albeit with April break in between them. With eight juniors and seniors and seven freshmen, it’s a juggling act for Meserve to get everyone in the lineup. But with some of the younger players impressing, much of the roster has had a chance to play a role in the team’s 5-2 start to the season.

“We have a couple other freshmen who haven’t seen a lot of time, but they’ve just been so upbeat, and they’ve been great to have in practice,” Meserve said. “They just love being here, so it’s been a nice mix of that.”

Brady’s freshman class could help the program turn corner soon

One area the Giants have remained consistent so far this season: their inconsistency. Brady’s alternated loss-win across each of its first six games of the season. On Thursday, the defense let the team down the most, particularly on Hopkinton’s stolen base attempts. Still, head coach Shane Baron’s excited about what the future holds for his team.

“Our catcher’s just phenomenal behind the plate. Ava (Archambault), she’s a freshmen,” Baron said. “And then you add Abigail (Tyrell), the shortstop, another freshman.”

It’s a young team overall, with just one senior. But the building blocks appear to be there for Brady to try to build up some sustained success.

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