GREENFIELD — With five games in six days to close out the regular season, the Pioneer baseball team knew it would need to be focused if it wanted to keep its unbeaten record intact going into the postseason. 

So far, so good. 

The Panthers knocked off back-to-back Div. 3 champion Oakmont on Monday, pulled ahead late to take down Franklin Tech on Tuesday and Wednesday against Greenfield, the Panthers bats got going early. 

Pioneer scored a run in each of the first two innings before putting three on the board in the third to take a 5-0 lead. Ben Werner did the rest on the mound, allowing just four hits and striking out six over the seven innings as the Panthers moved to 16-0 on the year with an 8-1 victory at Vets Field. 

“We have the luxury of having confidence on the mound no matter who we throw out there,” Pioneer coach Kevin Luippold said. “Between Ethan Quinn Monday, Alex McClelland Tuesday and Benny today, we gave up five runs in three days. It’s a luxury having confidence in all of them to keep us in games. The best part is one-through-15 loves to play behind each of them. That’s something to be proud of.” 

The loss snapped a three-game win streak for Greenfield (10-7), which couldn’t get it going at the plate Wednesday. 

“That’s a good team,” Green Wave coach Tom Suchanek said. “We couldn’t hit. Ben threw the ball well for them.” 

Alex McClelland, Werner, Ethan Quinn and Evan Tsipenyuk all doubled in the win, McClelland finishing with two hits and an RBI, Werner and Quinn driving in runs while Tsipenyuk had two hits and an RBI.

Braeden Tsipenyuk, Jackson Campbell, Ethan Mauthe and Brody Welcome also added base hits in the win for Pioneer. 

“We’re feeling really good,” Luippold said. “We’re stringing hits together each inning. We’re not just putting together one big inning which is something we’ve had problems with in the past. We’re not closing the door some games but today we kept swinging and putting the bat on the ball. They’re a well-coached team and [Greenfield pitcher Caleb Thomas] did a good job on the mound.” 

Chase Zraunig tallied two hits and an RBI while Logan Moore and Arthur Fitzpatrick hit safely for Greenfield. Thomas struck out three and surrendered seven hits in six innings of work. 

The Wave close out their regular season Friday against Wahconah at Vets Field. Pioneer hosts Easthampton on Friday before going on the road to face Drury on Saturday, the No. 2 ranked team in the Div. 5 power rankings. The Panthers are ranked No. 1. 

“We’re looking forward to Drury,” Luippold said. “I know our guys were bummed out last week when the rain pushed it back. They’re a well coached team and we both want to play each other. It’s a big game for both of us to see where we’re each at. We proved something to ourselves against Oakmont and at this point in the season, you have to keep proving it to yourself and to your team. That’s what we hope to do Saturday.” 

Wahconah 3, Frontier 2 — Trailing 2-1, the Warriors scored a run in both the fifth and sixth innings to take down the Redhawks in South Deerfield Wednesday. 

Porter Hall recorded an RBI single while Jack Cusson, Ben Caron, Shawn Baumann and Henry Drinker hit safely for Frontier. Joey Hutkoski struck out three in the loss. 

Turners 8, Mahar 1 – Ethan Eichorn spun a gem, and the Thunder took an early lead it never relinquished on Wednesday in Orange.

Turners scored three runs in the top of the first inning and that was plenty for Eichorn, who struck out five and allowed just two hits and no walks in a complete-game outing.

Eichorn helped himself at the plate, going 2-for-3 with a triple and two RBIs, while Kainen Stevens had two hits, including a double, and drove in four runs.

Matt Vitello struck out seven in 5 2/3 innings for Mahar, and drove in the team’s lone run in the bottom of the first.

Monson 6, Athol 5 — After the Bears scored four in the fourth, the Mustangs responded with five in the fifth and took the lead in the sixth to defeat host Athol Wednesday. 

Alex Lavigne homered and drove in three, Ethan Heuer doubled while Logan Cormier and Eli Wein singled for the Bears. Lavigne struck out three in the loss. 

Boys volleyball

Frontier 3, Granby 0 — The Redhawks closed out their regular season on a high note with a 25-17, 25-23, 25-19 sweep over the Rams in Granby Wednesday. 

Nate Rivera finished with 16 kills, Tegan Dexter put down 12 kills, Will Reading recorded nine kills while Tavo Vincent-Warner dished 33 assists in the winning effort. 

Boys outdoor track

Franklin Tech 87, Athol 44 – William Thomas won two events, and the Eagles flexed their depth en route to an Intercounty League win on Wednesday.

Thomas crossed first in the 800 meters (2 minutes, 32 seconds) and 2-mile (14:52). Wyatt Whitman (110 hurdles, 21.6), Sawyer Cadran (1-mile, 5:55), Dylan Cullen (400, 56.1), James Edson (400 hurdles, 1:30) and Samuel Bodenstein (200, 23.8) also won events to pace Franklin Tech. The Eagles swept the relays.

Nicholas LeBlanc continued his dominant, school-record breaking season for Athol with a trio of individual wins Wednesday. LeBlanc won the shot put (46-5¼), discus (149-4½) and javelin (138-0). Karim Thompson took first in the long jump (19-0) and triple jump (38-½), while Princewill Asonganyi (high jump, 5-0) and Damien Howard (100, 11.5) were other individual winners for the Bears. 

Girls outdoor track

Turners Falls 100, Athol 30 – The Thunder celebrated their seniors in style, as the contingent of Charlotte Canterbury (PR in the 800), Ripley Dresser, Ella Guidaboni (PR in the 100-hurdles), Sofia Moreno, Katy Lengieza, Jackie Churchill and Ariana Whaley Britt helped them to a decisive win on Wednesday.

Jakhia Williams, Molly Howe and Laura Fuess were double-winners for Turners Falls. Williams took first in the long jump (14 feet, 6¼ inches) and 100-meter dash (13.0 seconds), Howe won the 1-mile (6:58) and 2-mile (14:52), and Fuess won the triple jump (27-7¼) and 400 hurdles.

Other individual winners for Turners included Anya Livingstone (javelin, 81-2), Guidaboni (100 hurdles, 19.3), Carly Walsh (400, 69.7), and Canterbury (800, 2:50).

Karleigh Chase paced the Bears with wins in the shot put (26-11¾) and discus (79-9), while Piper Bailey won the high jump (4-6) and Ayzia Britt took first in the 200 (29.9). 

Girls tennis

Frontier 4, Greenfield 1 – A dominant performance from their two doubles teams keyed the Redhawks’ victory on Wednesday at the Davis Street Courts in Greenfield.

Frontier’s Esther Ehle and Aylen Shaw teamed for a 6-2, 6-0 win at No. 1 doubles over Greenfield’s Adele Bross and Lizzy Derivolkova. At second doubles, Brooke Charest and Hailey Fernandez cruised to a 6-1, 6-2 win against Greenfield’s Stella Longe and Vera Jackson.

Kayla Fagan took a 4-6, 6-4, 6-2 win at No. 2 singles for the Hawks, and Ella Sibley won at third singles 6-3, 6-4.

Greenfield’s Amy Mihailicenco was a 6-0, 6-0 winner at No. 1 singles to pace the hosts

Turners 4, Chicopee 1 — Olivia Wolbach won in No. 1 singles (6-0, 6-0) and Avery Heathwaite took No. 2 singles (6-1, 6-0) for the Thunder in a win over the Pacers on Wednesday. 

Khiarieliex Huertas Hernandez and Gianna Marigliano won in No. 1 doubles (6-1, 6-2) to seal the win for Turners. 

Boys tennis

Frontier 5, PV Christian 0 — The Redhawks got back in the win column, sweeping singles to pick up a victory in South Deerfield Wednesday. 

Brayden Reipold was a 6-2, 6-0 winner at No. 1 singles, while Oliver Brown (6-1, 6-1) and Noah Nichols (6-1, 6-2) rounded out the singles winners.

Xavier Fripp and Matt Sibley teamed for a 6-0, 6-0 sweep at No. 1 doubles.