The Hopkinton Hillers softball team battled hard in their Division 2 semifinal matchup against Bedford on Tuesday night at Worcester State University. Coming off a dominant 12-2 win over Westwood in the quarterfinals, the Hillers looked poised to continue their playoff push. Bedford, the No. 2 seed, had not allowed a single run in the postseason entering the game, making them one of the toughest teams remaining. Hopkinton, the No. 3 seed, struck first in dramatic fashion when star leadoff hitter Addy Walls launched a solo home run in the opening inning, the first run surrendered by the Buccaneers in the playoffs. Walls also turned in a strong performance in the circle, keeping the Bedford lineup in check through five innings. But the sixth inning proved decisive. Bedford’s Lexie Masters delivered a two-run double to flip the lead, and the Bucs added one more for a 3-1 advantage. Gatorade Player of the Year Alyx Rossi was outstanding for Bedford, both pitching and hitting, as they advanced to the title game. Hopkinton’s season ends with a valiant effort against one of the state’s best.
