Bridgewater-Raynham softball wins Southeast Conference championship game against New Bedford
Steven Sanchez
NEW BEDFORD — Senior players are never afraid of the big moments.
And when it mattered most, Bridgewater-Raynham's co-captains Julia Newcomb and Jenna Merlino stood tall in Tuesday's inaugural Southeast Conference championship game against New Bedford.
"I was feeling confident," said Newcomb, who got the win in the circle. "I trust myself and my teammates."
The 2019 Division I South champion Trojans broke open a close game in the late innings and ran away with an 8-1 victory over a young Whaler squad in the SEC finals at New Bedford High School.
"Julia [Newcomb] was very poised today," said B-R head coach Mike Carrozza, whose team improved to 9-4. "She hit her spots and had the changeup working. It was a good game other than the error we made. [But] the defense played solid in the field."
Newcomb was nearly unhittable in six innings of work in the circle. She allowed just two hits, two walks, no earned runs while striking out a game-high 15 batters in her 85-pitch performance.
"Riley [Sroczinski] is the one I have to thank today for making me look so good today," Newcomb said. "She is so stellar behind the plate. It feels good because they have a pretty strong lineup."
Then there was Merlino.
With the game deadlocked at 1-1 in the fifth inning, the Trojan third baseman lined a shot on the first pitch to the fence in right field for a triple, scoring pinch-runner Maya Wilcox to give B-R a 2-1 lead.
In the next inning, Merlino cleared the bases with another triple that ice the game for the Trojans.
"It felt awesome," she said. "I was so glad I could help out the team … rally everyone together and changed the momentum."
Carrozza said Merlino has provided strong leadership this season.
"She works hard with her hitting, with the team and she leads by example," he said. "She does a really good job. I'm happy for her."
Newcomb was locked in a pitcher's duel with N-B junior right Lilly Gray, who kept her team in the game until B-R erupted for six runs on seven hits in the sixth.
"We're young and there are always improvements," Gray said. "It's difficult when you only had four that you played with before. In the sixth inning, there was a couple of [mental] errors and I think that got the best us our infielders and outfielders. I feel I was on my game but [B-R] is a good hitting team and made their hits count."
Gray was strong in the first five innings, scattering seven hits and allowed two walks.
She finished with seven strikeouts in her 113-pitch effort.
"Lilly pitched great but that's Lilly being Lilly," said Whalers head coach Harry Lowe, whose team ended the regular season at 5-7. "She wants the ball against every team. It doesn't matter. She made some tough pitches. Defensively, we've had our moments when we did not make the plays. They're learning. This is a learning experience for them."
Newcomb fanned eight of the last nine hitters she faced before being replaced by Lily Welch in the top of the seventh. Welch allowed just one hit while striking out two, including the final out on Sophia Perry.
"I think we will be able to use this win as motivation and momentum to push us into getting a strong start to the postseason," Newcomb said. "Then see if we can get pretty far."
HOW IT HAPPENED
B-R took a 1-0 in the first inning, thanks to small ball against Gray. Riani Keefe reached on an infield hit, stole second and scored on a short single to left by Sroczinski. N-B tied the game in the third when Sydnee Ramos reached on an error with two outs. Hayleigh Chenard followed with a single, placing runners at first and second. Amelia Davis then hit a 1-0 pitch to right field to score Ramos.
Merlino's first triple of the day gave the Trojans a 2-1 lead in the fifth. In the bottom of the sixth, B-R sent 10 players to the plate and scored six runs to take an 8-1 lead. Merlino's bases-loaded triple was the big blow in the inning. Ashley Jacques, Emma Talpey and Emma Flaherty each collected RBI in the inning.
LOWE ON WHAT HAPPENED IN THE SIXTH INNING
This game is a fast sport and we did not play fast in the sixth inning. They got a couple of infield hits and we just have to get to them quicker. We just did not do it. It was a 2-1 game, it was a wonderful game. We made the plays. That is what happens when you give them too many at-bats. It is contagious and that's what happens.
LOWE'S THOUGHTS ON THE FUTURE
I'm proud of the kids. Here we are, we got five freshmen on the team and have only one senior, playing in the league championship game. I cannot cry about that. Defensively, we've had our moments this year when we did not make the plays so that's why we lost seven. But we've played some real good games also. The innings and the at-bats that these freshmen are getting are unbelievable. It is going to be a big boost for us in the future.
CARROZZA'S IMPRESSION OF THE YOUNG WHALERS
I was pretty impressed with New Bedford. We had some opportunities early on but we could not move them. They have come a long way since the first time we last saw them.
HITTING STARS
B-R collected 14 hits on the day. Sroczinski reached base all four times, had three hits and an RBI. Keefe, Jacques, Merlino (four RBI) and Taylor Feist each finished the day with a pair of hits. Essence Reyes also had one of the three hits by N-B in the seventh inning.
Herald News and Taunton Daily Gazette sports editor Steven Sanchez can be reached at ssanchez@heraldnews.com. You can follow him on Twitter at @Chezsports. Support local journalism by purchasing a digital or print subscription to the Taunton Daily Gazette.