Fitchburg 16U caps season with title
Team rallies in championship game to finish undefeated
It was certainly a magical season for the Fitchburg 16u softball team.
Fitchburg capped a memorable 2022 campaign Thursday night with a thrilling come-from- behind victory, winning 9-8 over Ashburnham/ Westminster Martin in the title game of the North Central Mass. Softball League at Coolidge Park.
With the win, top-seeded Fitchburg finishes its season with a 13- 0-1 record while second-seeded Ashburnham/westminster closes with a 9- 4-2 overall mark.
Fitchburg head coach Kelly DeGroot and her assistant coaches Heather Desrochers and Lauren Raboin couldn’t be prouder of their team as they brought home the championship trophy against a strong Ash/west squad.
“It really was an honor to coach these girls this season. Each game they showed up and gave it their all and played their hearts out,” Degroot said. “Many of them have played together for well over six years and it shows in their friendships and how they treat each other.”
Finishing the regular season as the top seed in the 16U Division, Fitchburg entered the seven-team postseason with a first-round bye before hosting fourth-seeded Ayer-shirley in the semifinals.
Fitchburg took care of business against Ayer- Shirley as it defeated the Panthers, 16-7, at Coolidge Park on June 13 to punch its ticket to the championship game.
“Every single girl on the team played a part in our victories this season. There are no individuals here, just a phenomenal team and group of girls,” said Degroot. “I hope they are proud of themselves because myself and the other coaches are extremely proud.”
On the other side of the bracket, sixth-seeded Lunenburg upset thirdseeded Ash/west Gerbick in the quarterfinals while Ash/ West Martin defeated seventh- seeded Ayer- Shirley Minear.
In the semifinal round at Whitney Field in Ashburnham, Ash/west Martin blanked Lunenburg 15- 0 to advance to Thursday’s title game.
In the two previous meetings this season, Fitchburg went 1- 0-1 against Martin. Fitchburg secured a 16-13 triumph at Whitney Field back on May 7 before the two teams played to a 10all draw at Coolidge Park on May 29.
Fitchburg High varsity softball head coach Chris Kitchin, whose daughter Ellie Kitchin is a member of the team along with a handful of other Red Raiders from his program, watched the championship run with great pride.
“I’m incredibly proud of the girls and their coaches. It’s a difficult situation to play in a championship game
with a roster of 16 girls who all need to be in the batting order, especially when the other team only had 11 players,” said Chris Kitchin. “Our girls fell behind by four runs in the first inning, but battled back and continued to battle the rest of the game. It’s quite exciting to watch the future of the city softball teams as they grow.”
In 14 games this season, Fitchburg scored a combined 217 runs while only allowing 104
Making up the Fitchburg championship roster is Anna Soini, Ina Soini, Kiara Alicea-roman, Dayra Villot-villalobos, Irene Witkowski, Riley Degroot, Maddie Ward, Aza Dizuzio, Suliana Torres, Anika Peterson, Leylaniz Kim, Hannah Bellar, Jordan Higbee, Genevieve Raboin, Mackenzie Roy and Kitchin.