001So, we got to we have a job to do now. So, we we've got to pick the we've got to pick the um Gobbler defensive player of the game, the King Kong offensive player of the game. Uh so, I don't know. I think we got some candidates um in terms of offensively, I think anybody from that first four uh I I I would say it's got to be either Domenico, who was three for four in the day, Mhm. uh Kyra, who was two for four with three big RBIs, that triple, uh and and then Vendetti, who was also two for four today with an RBI. Well, I you I know you might be hesitant to nominate Caroline as the uh as the King Kong offensive player of the game from uh Marathon Deli, but I'm
002good with it. She uh she had a couple of really strong hits, some clutch performance, drove in the runs, and uh you know, some extra base hits. Okay, so we'll give the King Kong uh batter of the game to Caroline Kyra uh for her performance today. And then now we got to get that Gobbler the the the Gobbler defensive player of the game. I you know, obviously Ava Vendetti made that great diving play behind the plate, but I I think Sophie Connors at third base was was great there today stepping in in her first varsity start, making some really solid plays over third. You make a good point, and I'm convinced. I was ready to give it to to uh to Ava with that diving play she called a masterpiece behind the plate today, but
003you're right. I mean, uh you know, Connors came up huge at third base and and was uh pretty much making all the plays. Yeah, I it's it's um it's a tough call, but she did have three assists on the day uh from the third base spot. Uh and that's, you know, it's no easy position playing third base, especially in your first career start. >> Yeah, and she was making solid throws from third base across the diamond. So, we are going to head over. Uh I'm going to go grab our King Kong player of the game, our Gobbler player of the game, and also um get Bella Domenico over here. Okay, sounds good. So, uh I guess I'm going to hang out here with you for just a couple of minutes while Mike grabs our players
004of the game. I do want to mention we were talking about the different play different people within the community that are announcing these future games coming up this week and want to mention that during spring sports here on WACA we have a total of 12 different announcers, seven crew members including three current Ashland students and a recent Ashland graduate. So, if you'd like to join the broadcast team whether as an announcer on the crew if you're interested in learning about video multimedia production, drop us a line. Best way to get us is newsnotes all one word [email protected]. No prior experience necessary. We'd love to have you. Get everything you need to learn right there on the job. So, with that and I'm looking off camera now and Mike is still having a conversation with coach
005Larry Sasso. Again, I guess we're going to go with with coach Sasso today coming up on on camera. I'll step out of the way. Coach, Might be a little closer. I'm not sure how close you are. You want to So, coach is ready for his close-up. >> Yeah, well why don't we why don't we just get behind here? Is this good? >> Standing? All right. Coach Sasso, fantastic win today out of you. So, we we've got to talk a little bit about this program and the turnaround that we have made here going from six wins in two years to starting off this season eight and one well on track to potentially make the state tournament for the first time in over a decade. Talk a little bit about the the change in attitude and the
006positivity that you feel like you've brought to this program. Yeah, first off what happened in the past I want to thank all those coaches who participated to help we're going forward each day. What's changed with this team early on we had to build trust. We did that with coach Curtis and coach Kelly staying I talked to them and immediately I knew we we wanted to keep them in the program and that that started it off great and then we've got our coaches from prior College, Anna Maria College, our three assistant coaches right there. Saab, Cass, and Sailor. So, with that, we've got a talented group, but we also have a talented young softball team with good leadership, right? And tremendous players. The biggest thing that they needed to know is that they have the talent.
007We had to build confidence and trust. We want them to know that the bar is up here. It's not down here. Whatever happened last year and the year before, we don't go by that. We started ground We started zero, but we set the bar high with these guys. It's It's all about industrious. We work hard. We prepare hard. We prepared for that team big time. We did our scouting reports. We had that That's a very good Algonquin team, coached very well, really tremendous team. And it It shows that we can raise the bar and we have to. So, we're all really proud of them. That's excellent. And we got some players today that we're going to honor. We We have We're sponsored by the Marathon Deli. So, coach, we're going to come over and and
008get some some quick some quick recognition for these these girls. So, what we're going to start with Sophie Conners. Sophie, come on over. Sophie Conners, come on over. Sophie, we we we selected you as our Marathon Deli Gobbler Sandwich Defensive Player of the Game today. Sophie, throw that on real quick. Um so, Sophie, getting the call-up today, your first varsity performance. You go over and play at third base. You play a really solid third base, make three really nice plays. Talk to us a little bit about what it meant to you to be able to have your first varsity game to start at third base. Um it meant a lot. I love softball and all and have always loved softball. I started in kindergarten. And on JV, I don't get to play a lot of
009third base. So, getting to come here and play third base was great. Well, that's fantastic, Sophie. A great job today. Congratulations for being our first-ever Gobbler Defensive Player of the Game. We're going to pass this over now to to Caroline Kyra. Uh Caroline Kyra. >> power and speed. Kyra Caroline Kyra, certainly I'm a little biased about this, but but Josh Abrams did select you as the King Kong Offensive Player of the Game today for your two-for-four performance, three RBIs, a triple, a single on an error that allowed you to score all the way from first. You got the afterburners going, you put the speed on. Talk a little bit about Caroline, this team, and how much fun you've been having on this team this year, and and what this season has meant to you so
010far. I think so far it's been it's been a lot of fun to get to experience this team with a whole new uh whole new staff and a whole new um group of players. It's a lot of fun to get to experience everyone else and how they view the team and how they're doing. So, it's been a lot of fun. I've actually really enjoyed this season a lot, so it's a lot of fun. And what were you thinking when you had a leg out of triple and leg out one to score today? Nothing you You know, you had to turn on I did not think I was going to make it, but somehow I put those wheels on and I moved. I got the sign and I took off. >> Turned those square wheels around
011today and were able to make it through. So, a great a great game out of you. Good job today, Caroline, and we will go home and maybe celebrate later on. Let's bring on our winning pitcher today, Bella Domestico. Bella, another tremendous performance out of you today, Bella. As we've talked about you all year long, efficiency around the plate is what you have shown us as a freshman coming in. So poised, coming in that last inning needing to close them out with a two-run lead. Bella, on the day, four runs, only two earned, eight strikeouts, and some big strikeouts. Bella, talk a little bit about what it's meant to be able to play with some of these older kids who have shown some leadership for you as well as, you know, your long-time friend Ava Vendetti
012behind the plate. You guys are freshman battery. It's I'm sure it's been great for you. Yeah, it's meant a lot because I wasn't able to like like I didn't play with like the seniors captains, but like I've made like a really good connection with them and it's like our team connection and like our how we work together is like really good and yeah. Well, Bella, it's been it's been fantastic watching you play. What do you think this team needs to do to keep it up for the rest of the year? Just confidence cuz sometimes you don't have the best confidence, but like we're going to um beat Hopkinton when we come back. All right. Well, you heard it from Bella the mascot. Well, let's let's make sure we take care of business against Dedham first
013on Monday and then we'll think of Hopkinton down the road, but Bella, I love the way you are thinking. Folks, this was fantastic. Coach Sasso, Caroline, Sophie, Bella, thank you for joining us. Thank you. Please thank all the fans. We needed a little extra today. We got the energy from our players, but when I saw the group out here, our players appreciate that the fans support. That little extra, that was the difference today. We needed everybody. All right. Thank you, coach. Thanks. Thank you, ladies. So, for the crew here at Hunt Field at Ashland Middle School, uh we want to thank an amazing crew. Absolutely. Um so, we're sorry. We're going to say to you hi thanks to Jeff Hall, to Brian Monacito, to uh What are your name? I I I've met the two
014new guys yet. >> We got Harry Adamik and Garrett Ferguson >> Okay, Garrett. >> helping us out today on the cameras. It has been a wonderful day with you, Josh. I hope we get to do this again. My pleasure to be with you. Uh and from Ashland Middle School, it is the Ashland Varsity Clockers 6, the Algonquin Titans 4. Ashland is moving and shaking 8 and 1 on the season. Until next time, we are signing off here. I am Michael Cairo with my partner Josh Abrams. Okay. Thanks, everybody. Thanks for watching and go Clockers.