Gabel, Myler score winning run

   The 12U Watertown Raiders took on a very strong Newton Panthers team in double header action at the Lowell Field this past Sunday. It was a rain soaked field with continuous drizzle through out the games. Thanks to Greg Salvucci, the league President, who jumped into action with some quick dry and field prep, the game went on as scheduled.
   The Newton team proved to be Watertown's toughest challenge this Fall so far. The double header would end in a split. Newton took game one 8-4 and Watertown took the second with a score of 7-6. Watertown had their chances to take control of game one but the ball just didn't bounce their way.
   The second game was one of their most exciting games this season and would end with Watertown being the proud owners of a 5-1 record. The Raiders would strike first with two BIG runs coming from Jacqui Schwalm and Christine MacLeod and a key hit by Sarah Benites. Destiny Santalucia, on the mound, would keep the Panthers off the board by collecting the third out via the strike out ~ And Watertown took a 2-0 lead into the second. Their lead would grow by another run as the very fast Anna Papayannopoulos would race home to give her team a 3-0 advantage. But the Panthers would break it open with five runs to take a 5-3 lead. The Raiders then grabbed another run back as Kate Myler scored to keep it close at 5-4. Newton would quickly get that run back to make the game 6-4. The Raiders still had plenty of fight left and fight they did! Catherine Papayannopoulos scored the next run as Watertown chipped away at the score moving her team to within 1 run, making it 6-5 Panthers. In the next inning Newton rallied and had runners at 2nd and 3rd. But MacLeod ended the threat and the inning with a BIG K. Benites then scored the tying run as Stella Papadopoulou picked up a very BIG and timely RBI. MacLeod then struck out the next three batters to keep the score tied up. Watertown was now up. First at bat was Myler who successfully got on first. She then stole second and dashed off to third on a throw that got away. With Myler now on third and Cece Robinson making it to second, Claire Gabel got up to the plate. Gabel came up HUGE! With her hit Myler was off towards home to try and get the go ahead run. The Panthers were determined to not let that happen and made a strong throw home. Myler raced and slid under the tag propelling her team ahead 7-6! But the game wasn't over yet. Newton would get their last at bats. MacLeod quickly bagged two more K's. One more out was needed to nail down the win. The next pitch came and the newton player hit one very high. Christine Zhu called for it and made the final out for her team.
   Other high lights from the game included Anna and Jacquie Furbish reaching base successfully at every at bat in both games. The Pitching Trio of Caroline Costa, Santalucia and MacLeod netted them a combined 17 strike outs. And the heads up play of Schwalm and Stephanie Laskaris caught a Newton player in a run down at third for a key out. Also flashing the leather with some solid defense was Amelia Doyle and Ashley Nygren.
   It was a huge win for the Watertown girls who just two short years ago began playing softball and were learning to catch for the first time. They have been working so incredibly hard. Now they find themselves not only competing against division A teams but also winning! Next up for the Raiders is a match up with a strong Wellesley team. Stay tuned!