The Conant/Mascenic softball rivalry has been one-sided as of late, but the Orioles finally broke the hex Tuesday with a 6-4 win in Jaffrey, their first over the Vikings since 2018.
Tuesday marked the first time anyone on Conant’s roster had won against Mascenic, as the Vikings won their past six games against the Orioles dating back to May 4, 2018.
Senior catcher Tessa Spingola said Conant came into the game “confident, but not cocky,” knowing the Oriole offense was performing at a higher level than the Vikings.
“We've been hitting so much better than we had been,” Spingola said. “We're solid through the whole lineup. It was a little rough in the beginning of the year, but then we figured it out, one through nine. We can all hit, we’ve got a good pitcher and a great D.”
Both teams had some early stumbles this spring before turning things around; the Vikings came in on a five-game win streak, while the Orioles had torn off six in a row. Something had to give on Tuesday.
The Vikings actually outhit the Orioles on Tuesday, 7-4, but Conant found their offense in other ways, scoring on a walk and an error in the first inning and exploded for five more runs in the second, as Mascenic’s Katalina Davis walked the first two batters, setting the table for a Hannah Manley RBI single, a two-run error, and a two-RBI double by senior shortstop Teagan Kirby.
After Davis walked two more batters in the third inning, coach Dutch Stauffeneker pulled the plug; down 6-0, the Vikings looked to be buried. But, reliever Lexis Vautour was able to go 3.2 scoreless inning with no walks and two hits to keep Mascenic in the game, while the Viking offense started to come alive.
Mascenic strung together hits from Leah St. John and Davis in the fourth, got on the board with an Ella Pearson sacrifice fly and a Val Stenerson RBI single and then went to small-ball to do their damage, with a Delaney Traffie bunt single and a Bella Knisley sacrifice bunt.
The Vikings were threatening, but sophomore hurler Graecen Kirby kept her composure in the circle. Kirby, who’s averaging just over 10 strikeouts per game, went the distance, striking out six, walking one and allowing three earned runs.
“I was actually very proud of our pitcher,” Spingola said of her batterymate. “Usually she plays a pretty good mental game, and she was super strong today. “We just made sure we told each other ‘We're good. We're calm. We got this. We know we can beat them,’”
Mascenic added one more in the sixth on bunts and groundouts and got the tying run to the plate in the seventh after a one-out error, but Kirby induced Davis and Pearson to fly and pop out to finish the game.
Conant (9-3) brings a seven-game win streak into Wednesday’s game at Fall Mountain, who the Orioles shut out 13-0 to open the season. Conant is currently fourth in Division III, behind undefeated Prospect Mountain (12-0), Campbell (11-1) and Monadnock (10-2). The Orioles lost to Campbell 1-0, split the season series with Monadnock, and play Prospect Mountain in the regular-season finale.
Spingola said she likes her team’s chances against just about anybody, thanks to their core group of seven seniors – Teagan Kirby, Bella Hayes, Mylie Aho, Chelsea Dupuis, Heather Gonyea and Kaylee Karns.
“We've been with each other since sixth grade,” Spingola said. “This is the year that we're hoping to hang the banner, and coach [Wiley Billings] keeps telling us “If there’s ever a year, this is going be the year we hang the banner. So we just keep that in the back of our minds – but we don't want to be too cocky. So we just take it one game at a time.”
Conant hosts Belmont for their senior game Friday, travels to Mascenic Monday and hosts Prospect Wednesday.
Mascenic, on the other hand, will be fighting for their playoff lives over the next week. The Vikings are 6-4 going into Wednesday’s action, 12th in Division III, which will have a 16-team tournament. Mascenic faces a murderer’s row down the stretch, hosting Hopkinton Wednesday, traveling to Monadnock Friday, playing Campbell at Rivier College Saturday and then hosting Conant Monday; the Vikings host Hillsboro-Deering in the finale Wednesday.
BASEBALLMascenic 10, Conant 3
Conant responded to an early Mascenic score by taking the lead in the second inning Tuesday, but the Vikings scored four times in both the fifth and sixth innings to regain the lead and keep it.
Joe Cocozella went six innings for the Mascenic win with three earned runs, six strikeouts, three walks and five hits. Sean Agonis went one scoreless to close it out.
Starter Luke Lambert gave up two runs over three innings for Conant.
Jack Cocozella (3-4, 2 3B), Joe Cocozella (1-3, 3B, 2 RBI), Sean Agonis (1-3, 2B, RBI), Blaine Krook (1-3, 2 RBI), Hunter Kaarto (1-4, RBI), Lucas Leroux (1-4, RBI), Hayes Pearson (2-4, RBI) and Ethan McGovern (1-3, RBI) helped out the Mascenic offense.
Lane LeClair (1-4, 2B, 2 RBI), Malique Motuzas (2-4, 2B), Jordan Ketola, Joe Bergeron and Josh DiPasquale had hits for the Orioles.
Conant (5-7) was set to play Fall Mountain Wednesday after press time and host Campbell Friday.
Mascenic (12-2) hosts Conant Monday, Hillsboro-Deering Wednesday and then hosts undefeated Monadnock in a huge regular-season finale Friday, May 27.
SOFTBALLConVal 17, Souhegan 3
The Cougars jumped all over the visiting Sabers Tuesday and got the blowout win. Avery Moore led ConVal’s offense, going 4-4 with a double, four runs and two RBI, along with Morgan Bemont (2-3, 2B, BB, 2R, 4 RBI), Makenzie Anderson (2-3, 2B, 2R, RBI), Kendall Sullivan (3-4, 2B, R, 3 RBI) and Mairin Burgess (2-2, 2B, HBP, 2R, 4 RBI).
Sullivan threw all five innings, allowing three runs on six hits and two walks while striking out six.
ConVal (8-5) is at Hanover Friday.
GIRLS’ TENNISTrinity 7, WLC 2
The Warriors got wins from Senja Sours at No. 4 singles and from Elisabeth Jacob/Erin McDonald at No. 1 doubles, but lost to Trinity in the final game of the regular season Friday.
WLC finished the year at 3-9.
BOYS’ TENNISConVal 7, Kingswood 2
ConVal looks to have secured a playoff spot with Friday’s win over Kingswood.
The Cougars were missing two key players but got wins from some of their newcomers; Zach Burgess, Jake Daniels, Harrison Bernier and Lucas Gregory all won at singles, and ConVal swept doubles, with Burgess/Daniels, Eva Calcutt/Wyatt Burbank and Bernier/Gregory all winning.
ConVal (7-5) was set to play at No. 1 Oyster River Wednesday and host Windham for senior night Friday.
GIRLS’ LACROSSE
Hollis-Brookline 16, ConVal 4
The Cougars played tough in the first half against Hollis-Brookline Friday, coach Derek Sorbello said, before running out of steam in the second.
Sarah Holdredge had 14 saves; Abby Lussier, Molly Dishong, Addy Lustenberger and Hayden Kaltsas each had a goal.