Hopedale’s softball team kept rolling Monday afternoon, improving to 3-0 with a commanding 13-0 win over Millbury. The Blue Raiders were in control from the first pitch and never gave the Woolies a chance to settle in, turning in another complete performance on both sides of the ball.
Layla Huntley was a major force again, going 3-for-4 with three RBIs to help drive the offense. Delaney Vaillette also contributed in a big way, finishing 2-for-3 with two RBIs and two runs scored. Phoebe Carroll and Olivia Barroso each added two hits and two RBIs as Hopedale spread the production around and kept pressure on Millbury inning after inning.
The win follows an equally impressive 11-1 victory over Bay Path last Tuesday, when Emily Atwood starred both at the plate and in the circle. In that game, Atwood went 2-for-2 with a double and two RBIs while striking out nine over seven innings, and Huntley added a three-run home run and four RBIs. Those two wins show how sharp Hopedale has been early, with the Blue Raiders producing runs and limiting opponents at the same time.
Hopedale now heads into an afternoon matchup with Nipmuc, a 1-1 team coming off a 6-4 loss to Doherty on Monday. The Blue Raiders will be expected to win, but they will still need to stay focused against a local opponent that can compete.
