When it came to protecting its lead, the Joel Barlow High varsity softball team took no chances in its season-opener.
Clinging to a two-run lead, the Falcons needed a little insurance to heading into the seventh inning against Abbott Tech of Danbury. Saving their best effort for last, they racked up 11 runs in their final at bat to secure a 19-6 win on Saturday, March. 30.
“I think it’s a great way to start the season. We worked on some things in between and we got the job done,” said head coach Mike Lanuk. “We have three freshmen starting this year, taking over for three seniors from last year. They’ve done a remarkable job in the first game coming out.”
Although hosting the game, the Falcons played as the visiting team since Abbott Tech’s field at Hatter’s Park was deemed too wet. They went right to work offensively in the top of the first. After loading the bases, they forced in two runs on a pair of walks for a 2-0 lead.
The Wolverines, however, bounced right back in the bottom of the frame thanks to a two-out double that brought in a couple of runs to tie it.
Barlow immediately answered in its next turn. Taking the lead for good, it scored four runs in its next turn with the help of three hits, a couple of errors and a passed ball to go up 6-2.
Falcon pitcher Maggie Jimenez struck out two in the third before her team tacked on a couple of more runs. After loading the bases, they pushed one across the plate on an error and another on an infield single for an 8-2 advantage after three and a half innings.
While Barlow never trailed after that point, the Wolverines chipped away at the lead, starting with a pair of runs in the bottom of the fourth with the help of a pair of errors. They then held off Barlow in the top of the fifth before scoring another in the bottom of the frame.
It became a two-run game after six innings when the Wolverines scored once more but the threat ended with Barlow’s last turn. Batting around, they plated nine runs on 11 hits, batting around in the process to out things out of reach.
“It was good last inning,” said Lanuk. “We got the job done today.”
Barlow racked up 23 hits. Sophia Kelly and Violet Ganim led the way five apiece. The former drove in four runs and the latter three. Olivia Massone had a pair of hits with three RBI.
Jimenez pitched a complete game, holding the Wolverines to eight hits for the win.
“She has worked hard in the off-season to get to this point,” said Lanuk. “She did a great job today. Her change up was working nicely and when things got a little tough for her she came back with a big-time pitch.”
Barlow visits Newtown on Thursday, is at Weston on Friday (both at 4:15 p.m.) and goes to Kolbe Cathedral on Saturday at noon.
