Norton’s Nelson K’s 16 in shutout
On Monday during a rain-soaked practice, Kelly Nelson stayed for 45 more minutes to get in work.
Already considered one of the top pitchers in the state, the superstar Norton hurler and Holy Cross commit did not stop practicing until everything was to her liking.
And it was hard not to like what Nelson did yesterday against Hopkinton. Nelson dominated the Hillers, tossing a two-hit shutout with 16 strikeouts to lead the Lancers to a resounding 11-0 Tri-Valley League win in Norton.
“There’s nobody in this state that works as hard as Kelly,” said Norton coach Wade Lizotte. “She just knows where she wants to be and she just works to get there. It says everything about her character. Since I’ve been coaching her from eighth grade up, this is the way she’s been. Very focused. Always one of the hardest working ones on the team. She’s a coach’s dream.”
Nelson overpowered the Hillers, striking out the first nine batters. It was her sixth shutout of the season.
“I’ve been working on a lot of stuff over the winter and it’s been a tough transition back outside,” Nelson said. “Finally, it’s feeling better with the whole team and myself as well.”
After a scoreless first inning, Norton (7-1) scored three runs in each of the next three innings. Freshman Destiny McGrath paced the offense with three hits including an RBI triple.
In a Patriot League showdown, Abby Cleary allowed no earned-runs, surrendering just two hits and fanning six, while going 2-for3 with a double and an RBI for Whitman-Hanson (5-3) in a 2-1 win over Quincy.
Holly Russell belted a two-run homer to help Arlington (7-0) down Wakefield 6-3 in the Middlesex League.
In the Northeastern Conference, Tianna Dawe logged a no-hitter with 13 strikeouts to steer Peabody (9-0) to a 10-0 decision over Salem.
Baseball
In the Dual County League, sophomore Justin Moran earned his first varsity win with a completegame, nine strikeout performance as Waltham took an 8-3 win against Wayland.
In the Catholic Central League, Colin Jaena plated five RBI on three hits as Austin Prep defeated St. Mary’s (Lynn), 7-4.
Matt O’Neill tossed a complete game with eight strikeouts to pilot Weymouth (7-4) to a 3-2 victory against Milton in the Bay State League.