Seniors, Freshmen And Eighth Graders Power Nauset Softball To Final Win

NORTH EASTHAM – To senior shortstop Cammie Rose, the way in which Nauset softball closed its year was about as good it gets.

The performance might have evoked the phrase oft-repeated on last days of seasons — “there’s always next year” — not for reasons of resigned acceptance that typically accompany the expression, but rather because there’s a very warranted excitement for what’s to come for the team.

Powered by a lineup of six eighth graders or freshmen and three seniors, the Warriors beat St. John Paul II 15-3 in six innings Friday in its last game of the regular season. 

“I couldn’t have asked for a better outcome, honestly,” Rose said. “We were a little slow at the beginning, but I think at the end, we got those bats moving, and we couldn’t have asked for anything different.”

Nauset erased an early three-run deficit then batted around and took the lead for good in a nine-run fourth inning to end the year with an 8-12 record.

“We’re such a young team,” Rose said. “Even though we had mostly eighth graders and freshmen, we still came out strong, and we still had those wins and everything, and I would say that made us unique.”

Eighth grader Ava Lagasse struck out 11, allowing three runs — all in the first inning — and two hits over six innings. As a batter, Lagasse also hit an RBI single and walked twice. 

“She’s been very consistent getting the ball over the plate,” head coach Harold Pini said. “She had a little rough spot at the beginning of the game here, and then she settled down.”

Freshman Brynn Kew started the scoring for the Warriors with a home run to left field in the bottom of the first. Kew, playing left field Friday, is Nauset’s number one pitcher, according to Pini.

“Brynn could develop into a really powerful pitcher, so they’ve got a good future for the next few years,” he said. “It’ll be exciting.”

Eighth-grade first baseman Lucy Hartung hit an RBI single, freshman catcher Alexandra Mince drove in two runs on two singles and freshman right fielder Katie Connolly hit a triple and two doubles with three RBIs to round out the production from the very young Warriors players. 

“They do really well.” Pini said. “They’ve grown and developed over the year.”

At the game prior against Wareham, in fact, Nauset fielded a team of nearly entirely eighth graders and freshman, save for senior second baseman Molly Farrell, according to Pini.

“It’s very impressive for kids that young,” he said.

But even with the Nauset softball youth movement, the team’s upperclassmen still set the pace against St. John Paul II. Rose hit a single and two doubles and drove in two. Farrell hit a triple, a single, a two-RBI double and punched in the mercy rule-inducing run in the sixth inning. Senior center fielder Lila Alger walked once and junior Elizabeth Cormier added a pinch-hit RBI double. 

Rose said this was the closest the players have been in her four years. Connolly said the group “had a really strong bond this year.”

“It’s just been fun all season just to be with this team and with friends,” Rose said.

“They’re all just so sweet and fun to hang out with, and it’s going to be sad to not come back next year, but it’s been fun,” she said.