WAKEFIELD — The Wakefield High softball team picked up their first win of the 2024 season on Tuesday at Meghan Burnett Field with a memorable 11-5 victory over Woburn.
The Div. 1 Tanners were Middlesex League Liberty Division champions last year with a record of 17-3. In their only matchup last season, Woburn beat Wakefield 14-1.
It was a different story on Tuesday as the Warriors (1-1) got a strong start from freshman pitcher Kayla Shaw while the bats got going early to take the lead and never look back.
It was Wakefield’s first win over Woburn since 2015.
Sophomore Jackie Sullivan hit a 2-run homer in the 1st highlighting a 4-run inning to set the tone for the afternoon.
The Tanners battled back, keeping the Warrior lead at two runs through the middle innings but Wakefield tacked on three in the 4th and two more in the 5th during which Sullivan added another RBI and sophomore Kathryn Sliski picked up 2 of her 3 RBI with a 2-run double to give Shaw some insurance.
“Beating Woburn is a really big win for our program,” said head coach Chris Tolios. “They are a top team in the Middlesex League year in and year out, with great talent and coaching, so I’m real proud of the girls for coming out and executing to get the job done.”
The victory came 24 hours after Wakefield dropped a heartbreaker to another strong Liberty Division opponent, Arlington, in the season-opener. The Spy Ponders walked it off in the 7th after Wakefield had claimed the lead in the top half of the frame. The Warriors shook that off quickly, their 4-run 1st helping them accomplish their gameplan early.
“Our approach coming in was to turn the page, start early and try to jump out ahead quickly after the tough loss yesterday in Arlington and we did just that,” said Tolios who highlighted Sullivan’s homer which was crushed to centerfield just to the left of the scoreboard.
Shaw showed plenty of resilience, never letting the Tanners rally for a big inning.
“Kayla Shaw pitched a great game for us in her first varsity outing,” said Tolios. “It’s great to see young talent step in and not be phased by the environment.”
Sliski, Wakefield’s ace coming off an All-Star season last year as a freshman, stepped into the circle in the 7th to close out the game.
“As a coach I’m lucky to be able to have a 1-2 punch of pitchers that can work together to help us win games,” said Tolios. “I know it’s early but I’m hoping it’s something that becomes a constant for us throughout the season.”
The Warriors will try to keep the momentum going against another D1 opponent in Belmont Monday, 4:50 p.m. on the road.