Granville softball heads for sectionals

By Jaime Thomas

Following a shutout game against Cambridge on Wednesday and a win over Hoosick Falls on Friday, the Granville softball team has qualified for sectionals.

Lauryn Zovistoski and Angela Vladyka took home the Horde’s 4-2 victory over the Panthers from the mound.

Vladyka started out pitching, struck out four batters and allowed two runs, Coach Katie Barber said. Zovistoski pitched the remaining game, struck out two batters and allowed no runs from her opponents. The two played strong offense as well.

Vladyka went 2-3 hitting a triple and a single and sending one of her teammates home.  Zovistoski did nearly the same, going 2-3 hitting a double, a single and an RBI.

Gabby Hilder, meanwhile, had a chance to shine with her second homerun of the week, and Amy Baker tripled.  The game saw many low-hitting innings, with the Horde making their fourth run in the sixth final chance at bat.

For Hoosick Falls, Frankie Pearson and Rachel Pine each had two singles.

In a 16-0 sweep on Wednesday, Horde pitcher Hannah Bassett allowed only one of the Indians to hit for base and gave out zero walks.

Helping her cause was Hilder, who went 3-3 and with one teammate already on base hit yet another homerun that sent them both home in the sixth and final inning.

The sixth was exciting for the Horde as they brought in eight runs to add to the 8-0 lead they already maintained through the first five.

A number of other girls saw action at bat as well.

Vladyka went 2-3 with a double and a single, while Katie Leavey had two singles. Zovistoski, who has consistently been a strong hitter throughout the season, had two singles and sent a teammate home. Jordan Harrison sent two home and had a single, while Taylor Birchmore and Corrine Brown each had a single. And Nicole LaPlante hit a double to help her team win.

Carly Dwyer took the loss for the Indians from the mound, and she also claimed her team’s only hit in the fifth.

The win came a few days after a hard-fought loss to league leader Greenwich on Monday. The energy was high and the air was cold as each team did a lot of hitting in the 8-7 battle.

A few well-placed hits on the Horde’s part and errors from Greenwich gave Granville two runs. They might’ve had a third when Zovistoski pounded the ball up the middle, but pitcher Sarah Heimbach quickly snatched it out of the air before it made it past the line.

With Greenwich three runs ahead at the top of the eighth, Granville tried to rally but the girls’ two runs were not enough to win. Zovistoski hit a triple and a single for her team, and Vladyka hit two singles and one RBI.

Heimbach hit a homerun that sent herself and two others home and also a single for the Witches to keep them at the top of the league.

Granville finished out the regular season 8-6 in the league and 10-7 overall.