WESTHAMPTON — The No. 2 Hampshire Regional softball team advanced to the Round of 8 of the MIAA Division 4 tournament with an impressive offensive explosion in a 9-3 victory over No. 15 Sandwich on Thursday night.

After falling down 1-0 after the top of the first inning, the Raiders quickly came back with a resurgence of three runs in the bottom of the frame. The bats stayed hot throughout the night, plating at least one run in all six innings they appeared in.

Offensive production came throughout the entire lineup, with eight of nine hitters tallying a hit in the win. Five of the eight had multiple hits, with three of them tallying a trio of hits in what was a 16-hit night for the team.

“We’ve been working so hard in practices and everything, and I’m so happy that we just came out hitting [on Thursday],” pitcher Ryanne Dubay said. “We came out swinging. Everybody was just doing amazing, everyone hitting line drives, staying on the ball, not letting it come too far, but we stayed right on it, and we were just hitting.
I loved it.”

The bats continued to make hard contact throughout the night, with the loudest crack of the bat coming in the fourth inning. Raegan Dubay stepped into the box with one out, looking for her first hit of the contest.

After taking ball one, the junior unloaded on a pitch over the middle, crushing it on a line deep toward the left field wall. The Blue Knights’ outfielder tried to track the blast, but ran out of room and watched it sail over her head and clear the wall for a solo home run.

Lucy Trombley had a big night offensively as well, tallying three hits from her spot in the two hole. The eighth-grader drove in two runs in the win, also making some huge plays in the field at shortstop.

“I always like [Trombley’s] performance,” Hampshire head coach Brian McGan said. “She’s a gutty kid. These guys work hard all year round, and now it’s starting to pay off.”

Mariah Pacinella had three hits of her own for the Raiders, including a double and three runs scored. Rachael Hickox did well in her leadoff role, tallying a trio of hits and a run scored. Reygan Horstmann and Ryanne Dubay each tacked on two hits and two RBIs, helping with the onslaught of traffic on the basepaths.

Ryanne Dubay got the start for Hampshire in the circle, throwing all seven innings despite not having her best stuff. The senior struggled through the first three innings, allowing three runs to cross, but settled in down the stretch.

From the fourth inning on, she didn’t allow a run to cross, finishing the night with the three runs allowed on seven hits and three walks, adding five strikeouts. After a rocky third inning, McGan pulled his pitcher aside to help her reset.

“[McGan] told me to let my defense work,” Ryanne Dubay said. “Throw it where I need to throw it, but let my defense work. If they hit it, they hit it. I’ve got people behind me to help me out, and I think that’s exactly what helped me out the most today was my defense.”

“[Ryanne Dubay] gutted that game out,” McGan said. “That’s what I noticed was her guts.
Her pitches weren’t working too well, her location was off, but she never gave up, and the team stepped behind her and played phenomenally.”

Up next for the Raiders in the Round of 8 is a matchup against No. 7 Wahconah. Hampshire will look to maintain its five-game winning streak back at home on Saturday, June 6 at 11 a.m.

Granby 8, Holbrook 2 — The Rams received stellar performances from Meredith Bartosz and Rowan Cook en route to a Round of 16 win in the Division 5 tournament.

Bartosz went 2-for-2 at the plate with two RBIs and shut down the visitors from the circle, striking out seven in the complete-game effort

Behind the plate, Cook caught a pair of Holbrook runners stealing, plus contributed two hits for Granby as well.

The Rams will face of against No. 3 Hopedale in the Round of 8 next.

First pitch at Hopedale is scheduled for Sunday at 4 p.m.