Lincoln snaps skid with shutout of Colfax

The Lincoln High School softball team needed a response after losing three straight, and it got one in emphatic fashion Tuesday afternoon Behind a strong performance in the circle from Ava Ornelas and a breakout offensive showing, the Fighting Zebras rolled past Colfax 10-0 in five innings, snapping the skid and earning their first Pioneer Valley League win of the season. Lincoln capitalized on a Colfax error to plate the first run in the opening inning. The Zebras added on in the third when Macey Thatcher launched a home run to left field, followed by an RBI single by Mia Maldonado. The game broke open in the fourth, as the Zebras (4-7-1 overall, 1-1 PVL) pushed across five runs with timely hitting and patience at the plate. Brooklyn Guadarrama and Drew Hamilton each drew bases-loaded walks, Charlotte Grandin delivered an RBI single, Maldonado added another RBI and a passed ball capped the surge as Lincoln pushed the lead to 9-0. Ornelas pitched five shutout innings, allowing just two hits while striking out six. Guadarrama sealed the deal in the bottom of the fifth with an RBI single that enforced the run rule. Maldonado and Grandin each had two hits while Maldonado drove in a team-high two runs. Lincoln also applied pressure on the bases, swiping four bags, including two by Paige Mosby-Rossi. Mina Zanoni accounted for both of Colfax's hits from the leadoff spot.