The Hopedale Blue Raiders opened the Division 5 playoffs with an 8–3 victory over Notre Dame on Sunday afternoon. Hopedale entered with a 15–5 record and a No. 3 ranking, positioning them among the top contenders in D5. Notre Dame kept the game close by scoring three runs across the fourth and fifth innings, but Hopedale’s depth ultimately proved too much to overcome. Leading the charge was ace Emily Atwood, who carried her dominant regular season (1.86 ERA, 159 strikeouts over 90 innings) into the playoffs. In this outing, Atwood struck out 14 batters and added two RBIs on offense, anchoring both sides of the ball. Layla Huntley also had a standout game, driving in three runs with timely hits that helped Hopedale pull away. Hopedale responded to Notre Dame with decisive rallies, which extended its lead and turned the game into a comfortable win. Defensively, Hopedale limited Notre Dame’s opportunities outside of that two-inning stretch, and the bullpen closed out the final inning without surrendering another run. Tomorrow at 4 PM in Hopedale, the Blue Raiders will host David Prouty (9-9). Despite expecting a more competitive matchup, Hopedale remains the favorite and will look to leverage its pitching depth and balanced lineup to advance.
