HS Softball: Pioneer takes down Athol, 13-1, in five innings (PHOTOS)

Pioneer’s Allie Clary corrals a pop fly against Athol in Northfield on Tuesday.

Pioneer’s Allie Clary corrals a pop fly against Athol in Northfield on Tuesday. STAFF PHOTO/PAUL Franz

Pioneer’s Jaelyn Boliski pitches against Athol in Northfield on Tuesday.

Pioneer’s Jaelyn Boliski pitches against Athol in Northfield on Tuesday. STAFF PHOTO/PAUL FRANZ

Pioneer’s Dasia Young scores on a passed ball as Athol pitcher Ella Reed waits for the throw in Northfield on Tuesday.

Pioneer’s Dasia Young scores on a passed ball as Athol pitcher Ella Reed waits for the throw in Northfield on Tuesday. STAFF PHOTO/PAUL FRANZ

Athol’s Ella Reed pitches against Pioneer in Northfield on Tuesday.

Athol’s Ella Reed pitches against Pioneer in Northfield on Tuesday. STAFF PHOTO/PAUL FRANz

Athol’s Giana Vaillancourt waits for the throw as Pioneer’s Greta Lewis takes second in Northfield on Tuesday.

Athol’s Giana Vaillancourt waits for the throw as Pioneer’s Greta Lewis takes second in Northfield on Tuesday. STAFF PHOTO/PAUL FRANZ

Pioneer’s Laylah Goulston tags second as Athol’s Serena Nkengafe is forced out in Northfield on Tuesday.

Pioneer’s Laylah Goulston tags second as Athol’s Serena Nkengafe is forced out in Northfield on Tuesday. STAFF PHOTO/PAUL FRANZ

Pioneer’s Laylah Goulston tags Athol’s Kaya Stinehart over runs second in Northfield on Tuesday.

Pioneer’s Laylah Goulston tags Athol’s Kaya Stinehart over runs second in Northfield on Tuesday. staff photo/paul franz

Pioneer’s Amy Van Doren makes the catch in center field against Athol in Northfield on Tuesday.

Pioneer’s Amy Van Doren makes the catch in center field against Athol in Northfield on Tuesday. STAFF PHOTO/PAUL FRANZ

Pioneers Laylah Goulston makes contact vs Athol Northfield on Tuesday.

Pioneers Laylah Goulston makes contact vs Athol Northfield on Tuesday. Franz

Pioneer’s Greta Lewis scores as Athol catcher Madi Hermes mishandles the throw in Northfield on Tuesday.

Pioneer’s Greta Lewis scores as Athol catcher Madi Hermes mishandles the throw in Northfield on Tuesday. staff photo/paul franz

By THOMAS JOHNSTON

Staff Writer

Published: 05-13-2025 9:30 PM

NORTHFIELD — It’s been a steady rebuild for Marty Mulvihill and the Pioneer softball team.

This year, the Panthers have taken a big step forward. 

Trying to establish a winning culture with a young team, Pioneer entered Tuesday’s Franklin County League East contest against Athol with seven wins, already more than the Panthers won a season ago. 

Pioneer added another tally to the win column, pulling away from the Bears to earn a 13-1 victory in five innings. 

“In the past, varsity softball wasn’t a big deal here,” Mulvihill said. “I had to break a mentality that everyone gets to play and plays the same amount. That’s JV, not varsity. My big thing is creating a culture. We have parents that have stepped up with good coaching experience that have helped me out a ton.”

With just two seniors and one junior, the culture the Panthers (8-9) are building is one that it hopes can last for years to come. Mulvihill said this is just the start, with the players on the team dedicated to improving. 

“We have a young group of players who are eager to play,” Mulvihill said. “The younger ones are always the first ones there at practice and a lot are playing tournament ball. That makes a big difference. The skill level is much higher.” 

It’s been a challenging year for Athol (1-14), which had just nine players at its disposal on Tuesday. 

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Bears coach Skylar Dodge — who took over as head coach midseason — said she appreciates the effort her players are giving her in a trying season. 

“It’s a rebuilding year with everything going on,” Dodge said. “Not having a great amount of numbers has been hard for us but I’m proud of them for pushing through. Obviously we haven’t had many wins this season but I appreciate the kids who have stuck around and are trying.” 

Pioneer’s Laylah Goulston drove in a run in the first inning that helped the Panthers take a 2-0 lead after one. Two more runs came across in the second before Pioneer put four on the board in the third. 

Goulston and Taylor Chase singled to knock in runs in the fourth while Natalie Johnson added a base hit in the inning, giving the Panthers their 13-1 lead going into the fifth. 

Ally Robertson singled to drive in Morgan Brailey in the third for Athol’s lone run of the game. 

As of Tuesday, Pioneer sits at No. 24 in the Div. 5 state tournament rankings and is now just a few wins away from reaching the 10-win mark to earn an automatic spot in the tournament. Being more competitive was a goal of Mulvihill’s going into the year, and the Panthers have accomplished that. 

“The games we have lost, it’s only been by a couple runs,” Mulvihill said. “We’re hanging around against teams that have annihilated us in the past. We're a lot more competitive this year. That’s all I was looking for. We wanted to be competitive, try to make the playoffs and see where we get seeded. Making the playoffs with a bunch of eighth and ninth graders, to get that experience will be huge. We’ll be a team to watch a few years from now.” 

With five games to go in the season, Dodge is trying to build up the confidence in her players and continue their growth to build for years to come. 

“I want to see effort and to not see them give up,” she said. “I want to see them build some confidence. I hope they all come back next year. Not every season is like this. I’m trying to pick them up and let them know it will get better.” 

Franklin Tech 21, Mahar 2 (5) — The Eagles scored 10 runs in the first and 11 in the fourth to take down the Senators in a Franklin County League East contest in Orange Tuesday. 

Sandra Johnson cracked a pair of triples and drove in two runs, Breanna Kempf singled, tripled and drove in four, Lindsey Taylor recorded a trio of hits, one a double, and drove in three runs, Emma Petersen doubled to drive in three while Samantha Duncan and Brayleigh Burgh each tallied three hits for Franklin Tech. Burgh got the win in the circle, striking out 11. 

Agawam 9, Frontier 8 — The Redhawks led 8-5 going into the bottom of the seventh but the Brownies rallied and ended the game on a walk-off home run to take down Frontier in an independent contest in Agawam Tuesday. 

Skyler Steele homered and drove in two runs, Delaney Fifield finished with three hits — one a double — and knocked in a run, Ashley Taylor singled, Raine Wonsey and Addie Ehle each had an RBI while Wonsey struck out four in the circle in the loss. 

Turners 10, Taconic 5 — Janelle Massey smashed a pair of home runs and drove in five runs while Marilyn Abarua doubled twice, tripled and knocked in a run in the Thunder’s Franklin County League West win over Taconic at Gary Mullins Field Tuesday. 

Madi Liimatainen singled, doubled and drove in a run and struck out 11 in the circle, Addison Talbot finished with a single and a double, Autumn Thornton recorded a hit and an RBI while Mia Marigliano hit safely in the winning effort. 

Hopkins 7, Mohawk Trail 2 — Addie Loomis cracked three hits, one a double, while Emmalee Inman, Riley Dyer, Kristen Sevoin and Ashleigh Billiel singled for the Warriors in a Franklin County League East loss to the Golden Hawks in Buckland Tuesday. 

Grace Stevens struck out four for Mohawk Trail.