The ConVal softball team’s winning streak reached eight on Tuesday afternoon as the Cougars easily dispatched John Stark, avenging one of their three early-season losses and improving their playoff positioning.
ConVal first baseman Opale Barrick said her team has grown a lot since their season-opening 4-3 loss at John Stark.
“The first few games, we were testing things out,” Barrick said. “We only lost by one. And then we came back and we knew we wanted this. I mean, it’s our senior night, we want to beat them at home. If we were to beat them anywhere, it would be here. So we came in super hype. We know they’re a good team, but we’re just as good, if not better. And we showed that today.”
The Cougars scored in the first, second and fourth before exploding for five runs in the fifth to put the game well out of reach. Seniors Bryanna Matson, Mae Hagelberg and Barrick led the charge offensively, as ConVal deployed their unique blend of small ball and big bats.
“We’ve got some heavy hitters,” Barrick said, “and we’ve got some small ball players … We’re running, we’re bunting, we’re slapping, we’re hitting the ball … We’ve tried and worked really hard over the season. We’ve just gotten so much better — so much better.”
Pitcher Sydney Borges and shortstop Kinley Moore each had big hits as well, and third baseman Annabelle Laughters turned two singles into two runs scored as the Cougars ran away with a 9-1 victory, their eighth in a row.
ConVal (10-3) is now third in Division II and has players and fans alike believing. And why not? The Cougars lost their first two games and three of their first five under newly returned head coach Jim Coppo, but have shown no signs of slowing since. Borges, the slight speedballer, is as good a pitcher as you’ll find in the state; she eclipsed the 500-strikeout mark for her career earlier this season and, as a junior, is tracking to break Courtney Fisher’s school record of 775. (Franklin’s Lily Cornell, also a junior, set the new state record earlier this season; at last reporting, she was at 852 and counting).
“Sydney, man, she’s crazy,” Barrick said. “You’ll be watching her, she’s kind of small, what can you expect? And then she just goes out there and slings it at you. She’s fast, and she’s got the spin. She’s worked so insanely hard for it and she deserves everything she’s gotten.”
Big-bat, small-ball and a record-seeking pitcher has been a winning recipe before for Coach Coppo, who won a championship at ConVal in 2013 before heading off to coach at Monadnock and Keene before ultimately returning this spring. With the team fully gelled, energized, and loose in this final week of the regular season, Barrick and the Cougars have similar expectations.
“I want to win,” Barrick said. “I want to get there. I want to get to the final four. I haven’t been there. I’ve hit second-round playoffs my entire career and that’s great. Some teams can’t even get there. So it’s a blessing. But I want to get there. I think we can get there. We’re looking good right now for a home game, first game and second game [of playoffs] … I think we’re going for it. I think we’ve got it. Our small ball … our defense — we’ve got everything. I think we’re ready and whoever wants to come and get us, try.”
ConVal was scheduled to host Merrimack Valley Wednesday after press time and finish the season at Laconia Thursday and at home against Bow Friday.