NORTHFIELD — Make it three wins in a row for the Athol softball team. 

After knocking off Mahar and Northampton last week, the Bears looked to stay in the win column when it traveled to take on Pioneer Tuesday. Behind a strong pitching performance from Jaylynn Chapalonis, they achieved just that. 

After Athol put three runs on the board in the top of the first inning, Chapalonis struck out 12 and scattered just three hits in the circle, with the Bears hanging on late for a 6-4 Franklin County League East victory. 

“I’m so proud of them,” Athol coach Skylar Dodge, filling in for head coach Gerry Duguay, said. “These are our first three wins of the season. I’m proud of them for putting all the work in. Having all these games in one week is tough on any team so them being able to do it is fantastic.”

Pioneer (1-5) also got a strong performance in the circle on Tuesday. Jacobia Tyminski, pitching for the first time this season, went the distance for the Panthers, striking out 11 and allowing just five hits. It was the first game this season the Panthers kept their opponent under 10 runs. 

“The defense was good,” Pioneer coach Marty Mulvihill said. “For a pitcher who is brand new, she pitched seven innings and had 11 strikeouts. We had a couple little things that happened but that’s part of softball. We can build off this.”

A bases-loaded walk gave Athol (3-3) the opening run of the game in the first inning. With the bases still loaded, Hailey Cummings came to the plate and cracked a single that scored Jenna Bonenfant and Chapalonis, giving the Bears the early 3-0 lead. 

“The first inning we got a few runs which is always nice,” Dodge said. “We’re in a good mental state.”

Pioneer got one back in the bottom of the first after Maggie Tsipenyuk was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded, scoring Layla Goulston. 

The Panthers tallied their second run in the third. Tyminski drew a walk, stole a pair of bases before Abbie Ray knocked a single to drive her in from third, cutting the lead to 3-2. 

Ally Robertson reached on a single in the fourth from Athol and later scored on a wild pitch to add to the Bears lead.

Athol put two runs on the board in the fifth. Tapanga Chapalonis knocked a single and eventually scored on a wild pitch while Abby Lutz grounded out to score Cummings from third, giving the Bears a 6-2 lead. 

Pioneer didn’t quit, rallying in the sixth to cut the lead to two. Avery Johnson blasted a base hit that knocked in Jaelyn Boliski before a Tyminski base hit drove in Goulston, cutting the Athol lead to 6-4 going into the seventh. 

Tyminski struck out a pair in the seventh to keep the score the same going into the bottom of the frame. Ray got on via a dropped third strike before Roslynn Moore walked to put a pair of runners on with two outs, but Chapalonis got a strikeout to seal the victory. 

“We’ve been down a few players with April vacation so it’s been difficult to find the players we want,” Dodge said. “The team is working together to put the best possible performance out there and after winning these three, I’d say it’s been pretty good.” 

Mulvihill noted that there were plenty of positives to take away from Tuesday, and he hopes his team can carry those over to Wednesday’s game against Frontier.  

“They look a lot better and a lot more confident than they have in previous games,” Mulvihill said. “Hopefully we can figure it out. Athol always gives us a hard time when we play them.” 

Athol will look to stay in the win column when it hosts Mohawk Trail on Wednesday. 

Greenfield 18, Mount Greylock 0 (5) — MacKenzie Paulin threw a five-inning no hitter on Tuesday, striking out 13 and walking just three to lead the Green Wave to a Franklin County League West victory over the Mounties. 

Greenfield scored two in the first, seven in the second, five in the third and four in the fourth. 

Grace Laurie knocked a single, a double and drove in three runs, Paulin hit a two-run home run while Ellis Benitez drove in three runs for the Green Wave. 

 Mohawk Trail 11, Northampton 5 — Riley Giard didn’t give the Blue Devils much to work with at the plate, as the senior struck out 17 to lift the Warriors to a Franklin County League East victory in Northampton Tuesday. 

Abby Moffatt tallied two singles, a double and two RBIs, Addi Loomis cracked a pair of hits while Rachel Pease and Adrian Grant hit safely in the win for Mohawk Trail. 

Turners 8, Taconic 3 — Holly Myers was a force at the plate on Tuesday, going 3-for-3 with a double, adding a walk and driving in two runs to lift the Thunder to a Franklin County League West victory in Turners. 

Turners led 7-1 after the fifth. 

Madi Liimatainen struck out 16 in the circle and added a single and a double at the plate for the Thunder. Janelle Massey and Anne Kolodziej hit safely in the win.