Tewksbury Aims for State Title Appearance Wednesday Night

The Tewksbury softball team has already made history. Now, the Lady Redmen are hoping to add to their entry in the school's history books.

Here are five things to get you ready for tonight's Division 2 state semifinal game as Tewksbury is just two wins from a state crown.

1. Who, What, When, and Where: Tewksbury, the North Division 2 champion, takes on South Division 2 champion Bellingham in the state semifinal on Wednesday night at 7 p.m. on the diamond of Taunton High School.

2. How Tewksbury Got Here: The local nine opened the postseason with a 6-0 win over Newburyport, before escaping Arlington with a 1-0 quarterfinal victory in eight innings. In the semifinal round, Tewksbury had no problems with Danvers, snagging a 6-1 win. The Lady Redmen won their first ever sectional championship on Sunday with a 4-1 win against Dracut.

3. How Bellingham Got Here: There were no upsets in Bellingham's run through the South Division 2 bracket. After a 19-1 regular season, the top seed earned a bye in the preliminary round and nipped Norton, 3-2, in the first round. In the quarterfinal Bellingham was a 5-1 winner, before advancing to the final with a 5-0 shutout of Dighton-Rehoboth. In the championship game, Bellingham pushed home just one run, but it was enough for a 1-0 title win over Case.

4. Seniors Critical for Tewksbury: The Lady Redmen have just two seniors on their roster. But they're both at the center of the Tewksbury attack. Starting pitcher Shannon McLaughlin is the team's ace, firing complete games on a regular basis. Fellow graduate Brooke Hardy anchors the team's lineup and infield, a standout in both aspects of the game.

5. What Awaits the Winner: Whichever team escapes from Wednesday night's game with a win will earn a shot at the state championship. Tewksbury or Bellingham will take on Grafton or Hampshire on Saturday, in a game that is scheduled for Worcester State University. No game time has been announced yet by the MIAA.