By Tom Bannister

Somerville High School girls varsity softball is having a good week, according to coach Tim Hawkins.

The Somerville Highlander softball team opened up spring vacation week with a 21-3 win over Pope John last Wednesday and added a their second of the season later in the week.

“It was a great way to start the week and a great team effort,” first year coach Tim Hawkins said of the Highlanders first win of the season. “We had 12 different girls, every girl that went to the plate, score runs and seven girls score more than one.”

Leading the way for the Highlanders were Juniors Alyvia Baker who was four for five at the plate with two RBI’s and 2 runs scored, Junior Brook Metivier going two for four with two runs and an RBI and Sophomores Kaleigh Conte and Emily O’Regan and Giana Gomes who were a combined six for eleven with 8 RBI’s and 8 runs scored. And, getting her first of the season after coming off knee surgery, Joy Jarnagin, added two hits and two runs while Junior outfielder Jessica Mantia scored three times going one for three at the plate.

Junior pitcher, Kayla Linehan, threw all five innings allowing only one hit on her way to her first win of the season. Linehan struck out six and was backed up by a strong defense that only committed one error in the field.

The Highlanders dropped a pair to Wilmington on Thursday and Saturday, but split a doubleheader on Friday with St Clement picking up their second win of the season. In the opening game the Highlanders put together 10 hits but could only manage to push across 3 runs in an 8-3 loss. The bats continued strong in the second game adding another 17 hits, including a grand-slam by Alyvia Baker, and scoring followed as the Highlanders went on to a 19-8 win.

Freshman pitcher, Samantha Fitzgerald, went the distance and picked up her first varsity win. Fitzgerald was consistent at the mound allowing four walks while the defense played strong behind her committing only two errors.

Leading the way at the plate was Senior captain, Kayla O’Regan, was a perfect three for three at the plate and scored twice. Senior, Briana Lino scored twice and had a sacrifice. And, Junior, Angelica Bullen walked and scored twice, while playing strong defense in right field. Sophomore, Stephanie West, continued to hit well going one for two and driving in two runs and scoring two.

On winning their second game of the week O’Regan said, “It made me very happy to achieve that so early on in the season. I’m proud of the way everybody worked together.”

“That was a great win for us. We really are a young team with heart and talent coming up. When we are working hard for each other a lot of good things happen.” Coach Hawkins said about the Highlanders second win.

The Highlanders play a pair of games at Trum Field this week returning to conference action on Wednesday hosting Malden and finish the week against Matignon on Friday.