HUDSON – A number of members of this year’s class of senior Hudson High School (HHS) softball players started their varsity careers with a successful run to a state championship in 2019.
Years later, those same players are helping lead a program in search of another state title.
“Most of them were on that team and got to experience that whether they were on the field or on the bench,” Head Coach Laura Bowen told the Community Advocate on Saturday. “I think they’re hungry to get another one.”
Hudson expands lead, defeats Nashoba
The Hawks were in action at home on Saturday, taking on Nashoba for their Senior Night contest.
The game drew a large crowd to the HHS campus to ultimately watch Hudson defeat the Wolves by a 7-3 margin.
The game opened as somewhat of a back-and-forth affair, with Hudson opening a 2-0 lead in the third inning only to see Nashoba equalize the score in their next at bat.
Hudson kept the pressure on, though, getting Liv Sousa into position in the fourth inning to score on a triple from Sam Collette.
Hudson’s offense then roared, holding a 7-2 lead by the end of the sixth inning.
Though Nashoba clawed a run back in the seventh inning, Hudson was able to lock down and secure the win.
“I’m super happy,” Bowen said after the final out.
She noted mid-game adjustments that helped Hudson crack Nashoba’s pitching and defense, crediting her players for making those pivots and performing at crucial points.
“We just played unselfish ball,” Bowen said. “We put the ball in play whether to move runners or tag. We didn’t try to do everything ourselves. It was defining a team win all around.”
“I think we adjusted well,” she continued.
Hudson continues win-streak
As Hudson halted Nashoba, the Hawks also extended a win-streak to five games, continuing a rebound after consecutive losses in a home and home series with Wachusett earlier this month.
Hudson had secured three consecutive shutouts prior to this game, defeating Acton-Boxborough, Leominster and Blackstone Valley Technical High School by a combined score of 38-0.
“We’ve had a great week,” Bowen said.
She then eyed the playoffs, noting room for growth in the state championship tournament, which starts next month.
“I think we’re playing good ball all around,” she said. “I still don’t think we’ve peaked. But that’s a good problem. It’s a compliment to the girls.”
‘They have the potential’
Hudson honored seniors Caitlin Cassidy, Sarah Korowski, Abbey Nezuch, Taygan Lewis, Lauren Cole and Angel Bethea on Saturday, celebrating those players for their contributions to HHS softball over the years.
In speaking on each senior’s achievements and story, Bowen was frequently referencing their early high school glory in 2019, when a dominant Hudson softball program claimed a state title.
Now, in 2022, Hudson is poised to make another run, ranking in the top tier in Division III softball and hoping to continue momentum into the month of June.
“It’s fun to see them go through that at a young age and now they’re the leaders on the team,” Bowen said of this year’s seniors. “It’s up to them.”
“They saw how fun that was,” she continued, “and I think they can see that they have the potential.”
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