AMHERST, MA (FRANKLIN COUNTY NOW) — The midseason slump is officially a distant memory. The Turners Falls High School softball team was able to get past a three-game losing streak and go on a tear that led to the school’s 11th State Championship.
The Thunder dominated the Georgetown Royals, 5-0 Saturday afternoon at Sortino Field at UMass Amherst. Junior pitcher Madi Liimatainen threw a complete game one-hitter with 14 strikeouts, at one point retiring 18 Georgetown batters in a row.
Liimatainen added a two-run single as part of a four-run second inning that extended a 1-0 Turners lead to a 5-0 advantage. It was all Liimatainen from there, and after striking out Royals’ shortstop Tayla Mariani, championship #11 was secured.
Turners is now 11-9 in state title games, and the 20 total appearances in championship games is a state record. The Thunder finished the season with a 21-5 record.
Photo by Chip Cormie Photography