In a remarkable display of skill and camaraderie, the Drury Softball advances to State Quarter-Finals.
The star of the game was Brooke Bishop, whose phenomenal performance included three doubles and three runs, propelling Drury to a 4-2 victory over Oxford in the Sweet 16 of the Division 5 tournament.
Having secured the eighth seed, Drury (17-5) has now earned the opportunity to face the formidable Greenfield (18-5), the number one seed, in the quest for a spot in the Final Four. This upcoming match promises to be a thrilling showdown.
In the first inning, after Olivia Perry skillfully evaded trouble following an infield single, Brooke Bishop showcased her prowess by smashing a double, marking her 101st career hit. Perry then drove Bishop home with an infield single, taking advantage of an attempted play at first that allowed Bishop to dash home. When the throw home failed to halt the run, Perry made a daring attempt to reach second but was ultimately thrown out by Oxford’s Anna Heroux, concluding the inning.
Bishop continued to dominate in the fourth inning, commencing with a powerful double to right-center. She swiftly stole third base and scored when Marley Brothers capitalized on an error, propelling Drury to a comfortable 2-0 lead. Remarkably, the Blue Devils only garnered three hits against Oxford’s pitcher, MacKenzie Evers.
Oxford (15-8) managed to narrow the gap in the top of the fifth inning when Anna Heroux smashed a home run over the center-field fence, resulting in their first run. Despite securing their sixth hit later in the inning, the Pirates’ offensive efforts were quashed by Olivia Perry’s pivotal strikeout.
Bishop continued her remarkable contributions by leading off the sixth inning with yet another double, this time to left-center. Perry and Wood subsequently reached base safely, loading the bases. Marley Brothers then hit a sacrifice fly to center field, allowing Bishop to score and extending Drury’s lead to 3-1. Emily Lyons, Perry’s courtesy runner, later capitalized on a pitch that evaded the catcher, securing an additional run and providing Drury with a comfortable three-run cushion as they entered the top of the seventh.
The final inning commenced with a brilliant defensive play as Drury’s first baseman, Marley Brothers, skillfully tracked down a foul pop-up, making a remarkable catch against the fence. Coach Darling commended the team’s tenacity, stating, “The kids really dug in deep. That catch Marley made is what Marley is capable of all the time. Today she stepped up. There is no way she wanted to lose today.”
Despite Oxford’s efforts to close the margin with an error and an RBI single from Kyra Krasinskas, Drury ultimately secured a 4-2 victory as Olivia Perry successfully caused a ground ball to Rachael Barrows at third base, solidifying their win.
The upcoming game for the Blue Devils holds great anticipation as they face off against Greenfield, the current champion of Class C Western Mass and Division 5 State. Unfazed, Coach Darling expressed his determination that Drury would persist in approaching the game with a spirit of enjoyment and optimism, stating, “Hopefully, the sun is out, and we give them a good game. I’m always hoping for the best.”
The full article can be read at iberkshires.com.
