WESTFIELD, MA (FRANKLIN COUNTY NOW) — Franklin County’s dominance over the PVIAC baseball and softball tournaments was in plain evidence on Wednesday, as three area teams claimed championships, and two others garnered finalist honors.
The undefeated Pioneer baseball team captured its much sought after Class C title with a 4-2 victory over Hopkins Academy at Mackenzie Stadium in Holyoke. It was the Panthers’ first title since 2022 and came after near-misses the last two seasons.
Greenfield softball won the Class C title for a fourth consecutive year, edging past Franklin Tech 1-0 at Westfield State University. Kenzie Paulin shook off an illness to fire a complete-game one-hit shutout with 16 strikeouts to lead the Green Wave. Paulin was named tournament Most Valuable Player for an unprecedented fourth straight year.
Turners Falls, the defending state Division 5 softball champions, rolled over Hoosac Valley, 12-1, in the Class D title game. Madi Liimatainen was her usual dominant self in the circle, and was named tournament MVP for a third consecutive year.
The Greenfield baseball fell to Drury in the Class C final in Holyoke, 2-1.
The MIAA State Baseball and Softball Tournaments get underway today with the Preliminary Round. The Turners Falls baseball team, seeded 30th in the Division 5 field, will host #35 Pathfinder Friday night at 6:00 at Turners Falls High School. You can hear that game on Bear Country 95.3.