You know what I’ve been thinking? Good players play well in the regular season – and are often satisfied – but the great ones step it up a notch in the postseason.
Marblehead’s Tessa Francis of the ninth-seeded softball team was wheeling-and-dealing through the state tournament — three wins in four games, to boot.
No. 24 Mansfield made its way to town for a matinee, but left with a 4-1 loss to the Magicians. Francis struck out seven batters, escaped multiple jams, and even ended the game on a line-drive catch before throwing it to first for a double play.
“Tessa has a good assortment of pitches,” said coach Johnny Gold. “She can throw the ball hard and also has a change-up, and her ball moves.”
But it didn’t stop there. In a round-of-16 win against No. 8 Nashoba, Marblehead scored the upset, 5-1, behind Francis’ strong outing (10 K, 1 R, 4 H). Better yet, she smashed a second-inning home run, plus a single the following inning.
Then, the Magicians (20-4) faced their biggest test yet. They visited top-ranked Silver Lake Regional last Friday and upset the opposition, 4-3. Francis got the nod in the circle and delivered with four strikeouts.
Despite reaching the end of the road against Westfield on Tuesday, what an effort it was from Francis and company.
Tessa, good week.