Hurricanes Get Narrow Win at Taconic

PITTSFIELD , Mass. — Hoosac Valley's Izabela Tart and Genevieve Lagess set the tone at Taconic with back-to-back home runs as the Hurricanes claimed a 8-7 victory over the Thunder on Monday.

 

The Hurricanes brought the bats, collecting 15 total hits as a team with three of those being extra base hits.

 

Hoosac started the game off early in the first collecting a single followed by a Lagess home run.

 

That was followed by a Tart hitting her ninth homer of the year.

 

“The energy was really there for us today, we faced a team who has had our number in the past,” Tart said.

 

“I have played on this team for five years now and winning here felt really nice considering what happened two years ago."

 

Taconic defeated Hoosac Valley, 5-1, in 2023, their only matchup of that year.

 

Hoosac Valley came into Monday's game ranked sixth in the state in Division 5.

 

With only a few games left before the Western Massachusetts Tournament, Hoosac Valley expressed excitement for the playoff season.

 

“We have had some very up and down seasons where it felt like we had no momentum going into games late in the season,” Tart said.

 

“This season feels very special for not only me but our team, we see ourselves as more than a team rather a family ready to give it our best every single game.”

 

Hoosac Valley coach Mike Ameen said he expected a dogfight against Taconic..

 

“It's a great group of girls there," he said. "They made us fight till the very end.”

 

“Taconic always has a great team with a great coach [Bree Goddard]. As for us, we had a great spark and attitude in today’s game, the bats felt alive pitching was amazing.”

 

“This game is always a game we look forward to similar to our matchups against Pittsfield and Lenox.”

 

Monday's game involved a pregame ceremony for Taconic seniors Cheyann Goddard and Nina Maloney. Included with the ceremony was a running of the bases for the seniors greeted at home plate by their team.

 

Despite a two-run homer by Ella Stodden in the bottom of the first, the Thunder was shut down early and trailed, 8-2, in the bottom of the fifth.

 

When Taconic got its bats going late, its 10-hit attack included a special achievement.

 

Goddard claimed her spot in the Taconic history books with her 100th career hit as a member of the Thunder.

 

The senior brought her team to life mid game collecting a big hit in the fifth to spark her team's five-run comeback late.

 

Goddard pitched the full seven innings, allowing five earned runs on 15 hits.

 

Gracelyn Wright earned a complete game win for Hoosac Valley, striking out six.

 

Taconic (8-7) looks to rebound from the loss, heading to Turners Falls (9-2) on Tuesday.

 

Meanwhile Hoosac Valley (12-2) will host Chicopee (6-6) on Tuesday.