April 12, 2023 – Story by Ava DiCecca, photos by Fotique
The Harborwomen continued their undefeated season on Monday with a big 8-5 win over Marshfield. Having dominated in their first two games of the season, they were confident going into the start of Monday’s game and it showed as they came out firing, ending the first inning with a 5-0 lead. Sparking this momentum was senior captain Sarah Holler, who stepped up to bat with bases loaded early in the first, and brought three runners home. This was the play of the game and allowed Hingham to be more assertive.
Both Sarah Holler and head coach Chuck Green commented on the effect of this explosive start:
“It definitely set the tone,” said Holler. “Once we got those we started to settle down and we were much more confident in the plays, and even if we made errors, we knew we could survive because we made those early runs.” This comfortable lead, backed by a solid all-around team, gave them the room they needed to make more aggressive plays like the many successful attempts at stealing bases.
While Coach Green mentioned that both teams struggled to make some easier plays, the Harborwomen definitely made the most out of some difficult situations. Despite some shaky moments, “Jumping off the bus and scoring 5 runs in the first inning pretty much sealed it and then a couple more here and there just put another nail in the coffin, and defensively we made the plays that we had to” said Green.
The game was not entirely smooth sailing as Marshfield began to make a come-back in the last two innings; however, when it came down to it, the Harborwomen’s outstanding defense held Marshfield to only one run in the 7th. Though it was a game of some ups and downs for both teams, through it all, Coach Green praised pitcher sophomore Bilyana Wilkin for her consistency and skill on the mound. She was “the story of the day” with no walks, three strikeouts, and overall great control.
He also gave a shout-out to other top contributors including freshman Abby Mercer, an infielder who was moved to centerfield to cover up for missing players, but did not miss a beat and made some phenomenal plays; freshman Elise Fickes who had a double for an RBI; and of course Sarah Holler for her big hit in the first.
These girls have been training non-stop, “base running, fielding thousands of ground balls, out there forever” and it is clearly paying off as they have yet to meet an opponent able to match their skill and persistance.
Some big plays and consistent players made for another fantastic win for the Harborwomen and, as Sarah Holler put it, they definitely proved that they are “if not the best, up there with the top.” They will continue to battle some tough competition this season and their ability to make decisive plays will prove instrumental as they strive to keep their winning streak alive.