Hingham softball competes in Patriot Cup

HINGHAM – The second segment of the spring season for the Hingham High softball team is fast approaching with the start of the Patriot Cup tournament.

The Harbormens won the fourth seed in the Keenan Division and were scheduled to start play Tuesday at 4 p.m. against No. 5 North Quincy of the Fisher Division. The winner will face the winner of the Duxbury vs Pembroke match which is also scheduled for Tuesday.

The other Cup opener is Scituate at Marshfield on Tuesday and Whitman-Hanson at Quincy on Wednesday. The double-elimination matches between the top two teams from each division take place on Thursday as Plymouth North travels to Plymouth South and Silver Lake hosts Hanover.

The third part of the season is the Open State Tournament, which begins in mid-June.

Hingham took a few steps forward during the regular season under the guidance of head coach Chuck Green. With only one senior on the roster, senior pitcher / outfielder Laura Kenneway, the Harbourwomen are built for the future with a good group of juniors holding the fort while a talented pool of underclasses have gained invaluable college experience.

They finished the regular season with a 5-6 record, including losses to Patriot League co-champions Plymouth North and Silver Lake in the last two games of the regular season.

Last Wednesday they traveled to Plymouth North and lost by a score of 7-5.

Hingham took a 1-0 lead down the second inning. Rachel O’Connor started the frame with a single and scored on a right single by junior Amy Maffie.

Plymouth North took the lead upside down. Starting pitcher Caroline Collins made a two-out single and came to score on a homerun in the left corner of the field by first-year receiver Marissa Durette.

Hingham was patient at home in the fourth to score four runs and regain the lead. Lilli Carpenter and Maffei were walking and Aisling Doyle had a single in the field to charge the bases without anyone. Bella Sullivan then led two of her teammates home with a brace and Halle Morton continued home another point with the choice of a defender. Another point scored on wild ground and Hingham had a 5-2 lead.

As their chances for a league title slipped away, Plymouth North hit the reset button with five runs in the fifth inning to regain the lead for good. Meg Banzi tripled one point at home, Bella Harvey’s field brought in another and Kayla Rippon’s RBI single gave the Eagles a 7-5 lead and some breathing space.

Junior Kylee Hefner came in for Plymouth North early in the fourth and managed to shut off Hingham’s attack the rest of the time to secure the victory.

Hingham finished the regular season Friday with a 6-1 loss at Silver Lake.

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