Updates after press time:
Lynnfield falls to Lowell Catholic 4-2 (April 17)
Lynnfield defeats Hamilton-Wenham 10-2 (April 16)
By STEPHEN MARTELLUCCI
GEORGETOWN — On a sunny, warm day on Monday, the Lynnfield High softball team lost, 9-2, at Georgetown. With that result, the Pioneers’ record dipped to 1-2 overall and in the Cape Ann League.
The Royals, meanwhile, improved to 4-0.
“Their pitcher (Maddie Grant) had a great changeup and kept us off-balance,” explained Pioneers head coach Hector Longo.
Grant fanned 15 and the two runs she gave up were unearned.
The Royals scored three times in the bottom of the first inning and three more in the fourth. They added two in the fifth and one more in the sixth.
Gia Gagnon gave up eight runs, seven hits, eight walks and struck out three.
“She struggled with her control,” said Longo about the junior.
Morgan Hubbard doubled and freshman, Angela O’Hara, singled for the two Pioneers hits.
Senior Libby Considine had an RBI on a ground out.
On April 10, the Pioneers lost, 19-5, at home to Essex Tech.
“We had a rough day on defense,” stated Longo, as his squad committed seven errors that led to multiple unearned runs.
The Hawks’ offense also had a big day with 14 hits. Their big innings came in the third (eight runs) and seventh (five runs).
Lynnfield had five hits led by Hubbard and O’Hara who both went 2 for 4. Hubbard had a two-run homer in the bottom of the first and a double later on.
O’Hara had a two-run homer as well in the fourth and she added a triple.
In the season opener on April 9, the Pioneers beat Newburyport, 16-6 at home.
“We took advantage of their shaky pitching,” said Longo, as the Clipper pitchers gave up 16 walks and 12 hits.
Olivia Kelter had a grand-slam in the fourth as she finished 1 for 2 with three walks. Hubbard, Considine and seniors Julia Corrente and Kaila George all had two hits.
George had four runs batted in.
Gagnon got the win in the circle going all seven innings. She gave up five earned runs, 10 hits, seven walks and she fanned 13.
The schedule will be busy for the team the next several days. On Wednesday, they host Hamilton-Wenham at 4 p.m. They then welcome non-league, Lowell Catholic on Thursday, also at 4 p.m..
Triton comes to town for a 10 a.m. start on Saturday.
On Patriots Day next Monday, the Pioneers visit North Reading with that game starting at 10 a.m.