TURNERS FALLS — The Turners Falls softball team’s bats were on fire to open the season on Monday against Hopkins Academy. 

In a rematch of last year’s MIAA Division 5 semifinal, the Thunder cracked six hits in the opening two innings to race out to a 5-0 lead. The hits didn’t stop from there, with Turners tacking three runs on in the fourth and three more in the fifth. 

Turners didn’t need much offensive production with the way Madi Liimatainen was pitching in the circle. The junior surrendered one hit — an infield single in the sixth — before the Thunder added a run in the bottom of the frame to walk away with a 12-0 six-inning victory at Gary Mullins Field. 

“Our kids played a nice softball game,” Turners Falls coach Gary Mullins said. “We had a few base running errors but for the most part, our kids were on target and focused. They hit the ball hard all game.” 

For a young Hopkins squad that graduated half its roster from its state semifinal squad last year, new Golden Hawks coach Lindsey Lord said she was proud of the way her team competed. 

“You want to get these games in early in the season,” Lord said. “You see the things we need to adjust throughout the year. I was proud of them holding it down in the fifth and extending the game. I was very happy with how they did.” 

Liimatainen didn’t give Hopkins any easy at bats, as she retired the first 10 batters she faced, striking out eight of the first nine. The junior finished with 15 strikeouts and walked just three batters. 

“She was great,” Mullins said. “She had a little bit of a curveball that worked.” 

It was Mia Marigliano who opened the game with a single for the Thunder (1-0). Liimatainen came up and smashed a triple to bring her home, and Holly Myers got on first after a catcher’s interference call. Madisyn Dietz knocked Ivy Lopez, running for Liimatainen, in with a ground ball and Dietz scored after Marilyn Abarua blasted a triple, giving Turners a 3-0 lead after one. 

In the second, Addison Talbot singled and Liimatainen knocked her in with a double. Myers singled on the ensuing at bat to bring Lopez, running from Liimatainen, home, giving the Thunder a 5-0 edge going into the third. 

Talbot opened the bottom of the fourth with a double and Marigliano followed with a double of her own to score Talbot. Myers reached with a walk and following a steal, Dietz singled to drive in Marigliano and McKenzie Stafford, running for Myers, giving Turners an 8-0 lead after four. 

Autumn Thornton and Talbot cracked singles to get the fifth inning started and Marigliano blasted a double to bring both of them in. Liimatainen followed with a single to score Marigliano and add to Turners’ lead.

Anne Kolodziej and Thornton opened the sixth with hits, with Talbot bringing Kolodziej in via a single to close out the game. The Thunder finished the game with 19 hits. 

The opening day win gives Turners extra confidence moving forward, as Mullins said he likes the way the team is playing thus far.

"I’m really excited about this team,” Mullins said. “Their potential is very, very high. But, we have to go play now. That’s not a bad pitcher. We struggled with her last year. I like these kids and I think we can have some fun this year.” 

Cassie Dion tossed all six innings for Hopkins (1-1), with the freshman striking out four. Lily Ellia recorded the Golden Hawks’ lone hit in the sixth. 

“I think that they played very tough,” Lindsey Lord said of her team. “Our pitcher is just a freshman and half the team is eighth graders. I   thought they did well and stuck toge ther.”