MIAA Softball Championships: Taunton, Joseph Case, Turners Falls reign again; Walpole, Dighton-Rehoboth end title droughts

AMHERST - Three schools added new chapters to their long championship histories, another ended a title drought that stretched more than three decades, and the fifth winner broke through to take home the trophy for the first time. All of that was on the biggest softball stage at Sortino Field on the campus of UMass to cap the 2024 MIAA Softball Championships.

Here is a look at the action.

Division 1

Taunton 5, King Philip 0 - The third-seeded Tigers finished off a perfect season with their fourth consecutive state championship and ninth overall, sweeping past their Hockomock League rivals.

Senior Sam Lincoln was in control, allowing only 4 hits with 9 strikeouts. On offense, sophomore Mia Torres was 3 for 4 and scored twice, freshman Bella Bourque drove in 2 runs, and junior Brooke Aldrich added a home run.

King Philip, which was the No. 21 seed, fell short of its fourth championship overall and first since 2016.

Division 1 bracket     

Division 2

Walpole 1, Westfield 0 - The third-seeded Timberwolves made their first championship appearance a winning one, denying the No. 4 seed and defending champion Bombers of a repeat.

Junior Sharlotte Stazinski dazzled in the circle, allowing only 2 hits with 6 strikeouts as Walpole completed a tournament stretch without allowing a run. Junior Caroline Daley singled and later scored on a wild pitch for the lone run of the game.

Division 2 bracket     

Division 3

Dighton-Rehoboth 4, Hudson 3 - Senior Lucy Latour hit a walkoff double in the bottom of the seventh, sending the top-seeded Falcons to their first state championship since 1990 (Division 2).

Latour also had a tying RBI single for D-R, and sophomore Camryn Cloonan belted a two-run home run in the third and made a key defensive play in the top of the seventh inning.

Senior Audrey Lenox homered for the No. 3 seed Hawks, sophomore Taylor Attaway added an RBI double, and senior Livi Souza a run-scoring single in a three-run fourth inning.

Division 3 bracket     

Division 4

Joseph Case, 1 Tyngsborough 0 - The top-seeded Cardinals successfully defended their state championship from 2023 and captured the program's sixth title overall, shutting out the No. 2 seed Tigers.

Freshman Lila Alvarez spun a 1-hitter with 9 strikeouts for Case, and also scored the game's lone run on an RBI single by junior Bre Fontes.

Senior Kaylie Cashman had the lone hit for Tyngsborough. Sophomore Kiley Hogan allowed 6 hits with 5 strikeouts.

Division 4 bracket     

Division 5

Turners Falls 5, Georgetown 0 - The second-seeded Thunder added to the state record by picking up the program's 11th championship overall and first since 2021, shutting down the No. 4 seed Royals.

Junior Madi Liimatainen was dominant in allowing 1 hit with 14 strikeouts for Turners Falls. She also provided a two-run single to spark the offense, and freshman Addison Talbot added an RBI hit.

Sophomore Maddie Grant had the lone hit for Georgetown, which loaded the bases in the first inning before Liimatainen and the Thunder got out of it. Georgetown was making its first state final appearance.

Division 5 bracket