Table of Contents
Pretty much at the halfway mark of the regular season, Coach Jason Capodanno’s Winchester High girls softball team has a 5-5 record. They started the season 3-1.
After getting shutout by Woburn on April 14, the Red & Black regained their winning form just two days later against Melrose, 10-6 in your classic back and forth game.
The Red Hawks enjoyed an early lead after two, 4-2. But junior Ella Centurelli tied it up in the third with an inside-the-park two-run homer. Melrose regained the lead in the fourth by two again, 6-4, before the Winchester girls scored five in the sixth on just three hits to secure the victory.
Harper McDaniels (3 hits, 7 walks, three runs, two earned, 6 strikeouts) was credited with the win after pitching the last five innings. Senior captain Tessa Capodanno pitched the first two innings, giving up three hits, two walks and three runs.
The Winchester offense banged out 11 hits. Besides Centurelli’s round tripper, Carys Gugliotta, freshman Katherine Lisy (3 RBI) and Capodanno (1 RBI) each doubled once to account for the other extra base hits. They, along with Centurelli, also picked up one single apiece. Gabby Katz collected two singles, and scored one run. Gwen Gaiko singled once.
The Winchester girls then dropped a 2-1 heartbreaker to Lexington on April 22, managing just five hits. Capodanno led the way with two singles and one RBI. Mia Watson, Gugliotta and Katz each singled once.
McDaniels threw all seven innings, allowing just one hit, six walks and one earned run. She fanned 10.
The Red & Black then fell to visiting Reading, 17–9 to close out another week on April 24. Both teams displayed potent offenses, but Reading struck early to lead after two, 9-5. They were then able to maintain the advantage throughout the rest of the game.
McDaniels pitched only one inning that resulted in five hits, six walks and nine runs, eight earned, for Reading. She struck out two. Capodanno (10 hits, 5 walks, 8 runs, 5 earned, 3 strikeouts) pitched the final six innings.
The offense was credited with 11 hits against the Rockets. Leftfielder Anna D’Antonio supplied the power with a double that knocked in a run. Lisy collected two singles and two RBI. Capodanno, Katz and Mia Stuart drove home one run apiece with singles. Centurelli and Gwen Gaiko each singled twice. Watson picked up one single.
The Red & Black were back to their winning ways, when they defeated Belmont, 10-6 to complete a four game homestand on April 27. Lisy paced the attack by going 3-for-4 that included a single, double and solo home run. Altogether, she drove in two runs.
D’Antonio also supplied some power with a triple that produced another RBI. Nora Harstad (1 RBI), Watson (1 RBI) and Katz (2 RBI) each singled once.
Capodanno pitched all seven innings against the Marauders, yielding eight hits, seven walks and six runs, five earned. She whiffed seven,
The Winchester girls then hit the road for Wakefield on April 29, where the Warriors exploded for eight runs in the fourth inning to put this game out of reach. The visitors ultimately lost the game, 15-3.
The Red & Black begin the new month at Lexington on May 1. As highlighted in the aforementioned game, they lost to the Lady Minutemen the first time around in what was a most competitive game. They will be back at Ciarcia Field on May 4, when Wilmington comes to town.
Watertown arrives at Ciarcia the next day, followed by Arlington on May 7. They blew out the host Spy Ponders on April 8, 15-3. All four games will begin at 4:15 p.m. Non-league host Maynard will close out the week on Saturday, May 9, at 10 a.m.
Joe McConnell is a longtime, award-winning sports editor for numerous North Shore publications. He began covering Winchester sports for the News in November 2024 and is currently its Sports Editor. He can be reached at editor@winchesternews.org.
