Harwood softball rallies past Thetford, 8-7

In Harwood Union High School’s home opener, Abbie Reagan scored the game winning RBI in the bottom of the seventh with a grounder to bring home Kaylee Ferris from third.

Harwood got behind 1-5 early, but scored three runs in the third and tied it up in the fifth. With two outs in the sixth, Thetford (1-2) took the lead back, but only momentarily. In the bottom of the frame, Katie Martin scored her second RBI on a grounder for the go-ahead run.

In the decisive seventh, the Panthers took advantage of an error at first and a big hit to left field to tie the game 7-7, but a heads-up play by Martin at third and solid infield defense stopped the bleeding.

In the suspenseful finish, Ferris led off with a walk and then stole two bases on pass balls before Reagan stepped up to the plate.

Reagan surprised herself with the hit. “I was nervous I wasn’t going to hit, but I just took a big breath and got a hit in the gap between first and second,” she said.

“When she went up I told her to think she’s going to get a hit and she came through,” said Harwood coach Jamie Sheltra. “That was great for her confidence. It’s great to see. For a young team we hung together very well. Thetford kept putting the pressure on, but we answered the call and I’m very proud of all the girls and how they played.”

Sheltra started sophomore pitcher Becca Russell (2 hits, 1 RBI) to give her experience. “She’s our pitcher of the future and we’re trying to work her in every other game and not rely on Sammie Stolar every single game,” he said.

Stolar relieved her in the forth inning, and earned the win with two strike outs, two hits and two unearned runs.

The Lady Highlanders (1-1) travel to Lamoille Union today (May 1) for the 4:30 p.m. start.