I’d like to devote today’s post to the best match of the weekend. I’m referring of course to the Mayor’s Cup U12 girl’s softball tournament! (Sorry, England fans!) The neighborhood leagues in Boston each put together a team, and girls who were opponents during the regular season team up to take on cross-town rivals in a double elimination tournament. This year saw a rematch of last year’s final: Parkway versus East Boston.

Parkway had made it to the finals behind ace right-handed pitcher Norah, who had struck out twelve in four innings of no-hit softball in the first game against South Boston. But Coach Craig decided to start with rookie Courtney. Courtney gave up an early home run to slugger Riley in the first inning, but then settled in and pitched three shutout innings, teaming up with catchers Izzy and Meredith. Offensively, Parkway got off to a slow start in the first, but exploded for six runs in the second, including a three-run homer by Michaela followed by a solo blast from Maeve. Christa scored from second when Courtney reached first on an error by the second baseman. The team’s big hitters didn’t account for most of the offense: “Big Mac” Mackenzie hit a homer in the fifth, but Norah went 1 for 3 with a single, and Sammy was 0 for 2 with a walk. Even journeymen Meredith and Izzy, who usually find a way to get to first, had trouble getting on base, each going 1 for 3. Michaela went 3 for 3 with 4 RBIs, and Maeve was 2 for 3 with 2 homers and 3 RBIs. And the bottom of the order, Eva, Sam, and Shea, really came through in the fifth, with three singles and three runs scored.

After Courtney flagged a bit in the sixth, after five outstanding innings, Coach Craig took her out to cheers from the crowd and brought in Norah for the save with the bases loaded. Norah struck out two, walked in a run, and then struck out Ally to retire the side. In the top of the seventh, she struck out three with one walk to end the game. The final score was 14-5. Congratulations to this year’s Mayor’s Cup champions from the Parkway Girl’s Softball League, and to East Boston for a hard-fought match!