Tewksbury Makes History With First Ever Softball Title

The Tewksbury Memorial High School softball team has been to Lowell's Martin Field for tournament games before. This time, however, they left with a souvenir. 

For the first time in program history, the Lady Redmen left Lowell with the North Division 2 championship trophy, earning a 4-1 win against Dracut on Sunday afternoon.

The locals fell behind 1-0 early, but with two outs in the bottom of the third inning Kirsten Dick's triple served as the first Redmen baserunner. Brooke Hardy singled her in to tie things up, and Erin Walsh gave Tewksbury the lead for good soon after with a bases loaded walk.

Adrianna Favreau blooped in a two-run single to center field as well, pushing the edge to 4-1. That was all starting pitcher Shannon McLaughlin needed as she polished off a complete game victory with seven innings of one-run ball.

The only run McLaughlin allowed came home early in the contest when it appeared Tewksbury was out of the inning on an unassisted put out at first base. But instead the umpire called the runner safe and the run came in the back door.

Following the win, Tewksbury advanced to the state semifinal contest. The Redmen will take on the South winner on Wednesday night at 7 p.m. in Taunton. Whichever team wins that game will face either Grafton or Hampshire for the state championship.

"Finally," said longtime Tewksbury head coach Leo DiRocco. "I don't know what else to say. I'm just thrilled."

Tewksbury has just two seniors on this year's team, though they are key players in McLaughlin and Hardy. They have been key cogs throughout, McLaughlin in the circle each game and Hardy at the plate and in the field.

While Hardy said she and her teammates are ecstatic following Sunday's historic win, she doesn't believe the Lady Redmen will stop there.

"It feels awesome to make history, and be in the books for years to come," said Hardy. "I have the most confidence in this team that we will go very far and take these two games. I have the confidence in my team that we will do that."