Harwood hadn't played a game in over a week, due to a forfeit by Lamoille and a rain out on the 14th. Some were concerned with the layoff, but senior hurler Ashley Sweet brought her A-game and a playoff-style focus, as she limited the Lady Lancers to just one hit all day, on only 80 pitches. Sweet struck out four and only faced three batters more than the minimum, as she recorded her sixth victory of the season.
Lamoille scored an unearned run in the second inning but put up nothing but bagels after that. Harwood loaded the bases in the fourth but could not plate a runner. The Highlanders were able to even the score in the fifth frame, when Kim Martin opened with a single to right field. Mariah Liberty followed with a single to left. Randi Lowe drove Martin home with a sharply hit single to left. Lamoille escaped further damage as they were able to induce four straight ground balls to close out the inning.
Jess Jones was called on to pinch hit to start the sixth inning. Jones' quick bat roped a single up the middle. Jones gave way to pinch runner Hanna Martini. Morgan Lamson put down a beautiful sacrifice bunt to move Martini to second. Martini advanced to third on a passed ball. Martin and Liberty drew walks to load the bases. Lowe then lifted a sacrifice fly to left field, deep enough to score Martini, giving Harwood the 2-1 lead.
Liberty and Lowe each had two hits. Sarah Danaher ran wild on the base paths stealing three bags during the game. Harwood plays Thursday at Lyndon (10-1) in a rematch of the 2008 Division 2 State Championship. Harwood also travels to Randolph on Saturday, May 23.
