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Adames says Forgetta bout it

Monday, May, 11 By Jeff Hamrick

LAWRENCE — If you're looking for a blueprint to softball success, check out this year's squad at Methuen. Yesterday afternoon, the Rangers once again displayed the efficiency required to stay perfect on the season: good pitching, solid defense and timely hitting.

Utilizing those basics Methuen rode off with a 3-0 Merrimack Valley Conference victory over Central Catholic. It was the fifth shutout posted by the Rangers in 14 outings, the seventh time they allowed one run or fewer and the 11th allowing two or fewer.

"I looked at our team last year (that went 17-5), and you could see the potential," said winning pitcher Kayleigh Forgetta, who ran her record to 13-0. "The fact we've actually pushed through and gotten here is amazing. I really couldn't have pictured it any better for my senior season."

While Forgetta and her mates were holding off the Central attack, Maddie Adames was ensuring the effort would hold up.

After being called out on strikes her first time through the order, the senior second baseman gave Methuen a 1-0 lead in the fourth with a single that drove in Kelly Blackwell, who had walked. Adames supplied breathing space in the sixth, blasting a double to the right-field alley that plated Kat LeFebre, who had singled, and Nina Correia, who reached via fielder's choice. Those were the only two innings the Rangers had more than one batter reach base.

"It's tough striking out your first at bat, but you just have to come back strong the second time," Adames said. "The (third) time up, I just wanted to get another hit and help us score. I was just looking for a little hit, not a big one. Being ahead (3-0) is a different ball game."

The Ranger defense came through early and often with double plays the first two innings. With none out in the first, third baseman Blackwell started Methuen's first one on a line drive. Right fielder Amanda Conway came up big with none out and the bases loaded in the second, catching a fly then nailing Karoline Leavitt at the plate. Blackwell ended the threat, snagging another line drive.

Center fielder Coralie Mathieu made every out on fly balls in the fourth, including the final two with the bases loaded once again.

Conway also ended the game on a diving catch with a runner on first.

"We have such a solid defense behind me," said Forgetta, who struck out two and walked one. "I have no doubt in my mind every time I pitch the ball that whatever hit it's going to be, that (the defense) is going to get it. They are absolutely amazing behind me. It's a lot of relief."

Central also played to season form as the Raiders (5-8) stranded eight runners. Leavitt went 3 for 3, but besides being thrown out at home also was left at third in the fourth. Leadoff batter Hailey Cockroft also rapped a couple singles.

"I would say that today was very typical of the season," CC coach Stacy Ciccolo said. "I think we have just not been able to produce when we need to. We've tried multiple combinations in the batting order, and we just can't get kids to buckle down and produce when we have runners in scoring position."