McCann Tech Wins 8th Straight on Senior Day

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. – The McCann Tech softball program’s lone senior made a big impact on Senior Day.

 

Paige Rochelo went 2-for-3 with a triple, contributed to both of the game’s runs and made a big play at first base in the top of the sixth to preserve a 2-0 win over Drury on Thursday.

 

Ninth-grader Avery Lane also left her mark on the game as the Hornets won their eighth straight game and avenged a loss to the Blue Devils earlier this season.

 

But the day was all about Rochelo, who heard tributes from several of her teammates and first-year coach Aubrey Thurston during a brief pregame ceremony.

 

After the game, shortened to six innings by an early evening downpour, Thurston was still singing Rochelo’s praises.

 

“Paige really stepped it up today,” Thurston said. “She did what she’s been doing for us all year, hitting the ball, playing great defense and keeping our girls grounded.”

 

Lane (five strikeouts, two walks) and the McCann Tech defense were not really tested until the top of the sixth.

 

Down, 1-0, Drury caught a break when Maddie Saunders reached on a one-out error.

 

Ariana Rivard followed with a hit to left field, and, after a pitch got to the backstop, the Blue Devils had two runners in scoring position with one out.

 

Lane got out No. 2 on a swinging third strike, bringing the Blue Devils’ most dangerous hitter, Olivia Perry, to the plate.

 

Perry sliced a line drive down the first base line, but Rochelo scooped it up to end the inning.

 

Earlier in the game, Rochelo helped break a scoreless tie by leading off the bottom of the fourth with a triple to left field.

 

Aiden Champney brought Rochelo home with a sacrifice fly to center field to make it 1-0.

 

In the bottom of the sixth, after Rochelo’s defense helped preserve that lead, the Hornets got some insurance.

 

Shaylee Lawson led off with an infield single and moved into scoring position when Rochelo singled up the middle.

 

Perry then struck out a pair, but Gabby Driscoll delivered a single up the middle to score Lawson and make it 2-0.

 

Perry struck out eight in going the distance for the Blue Devils, who finish the regular season at 10-8 and now get ready for next week’s Western Massachusetts Class C Tournament.

 

For McCann Tech’s Lane, it was her first complete game of the spring and lowered her earned run average to 2.86.

 

“Avery is in her freshman year here at McCann and doing really well, definitely, when she’s at second base or pitching,” Thurston said.

 

“I believe that was her first full game, but when she’s pitching that well and has that momentum, we wanted to keep her in there to finish it out.”

 

McCann Tech (10-3) has another local challenge on Friday when Hoosac Valley visits.

 

Photos from this game to come.