SALEM, N.H. – As good as Maddie Bellavia pitched on Wednesday in the Salem High softball playoff opener, the sophomore found a way to sparkle even brighter in Saturday’s Division I state quarterfinal.
The righty spun five shutout innings on two hits and a walk, striking out 11, as the Blue Devils took out Spaulding High, 12-0, in a mercy-rule shortened affair.
In her first three innings on the mound, Bellavia struck out eight batters, helping Salem get out of two jams in the first and third innings.
In the bottom half of the first inning, Bellavia also contributed at the plate with Salem jumping to an early three-run lead. The Blue Devils opened the inning with three consecutive hits, including an RBI double from sophomore outfielder Lily Gross. With runners at first and third, Bellavia smacked a first-pitch ground-rule double which brought home a run and put runners in scoring position.
After striking out the side in the second inning, Bellavia added two more strikeouts in the third, stranding two runners in scoring position. Salem extended its lead to 6-0 in those two innings.
Bellavia capped off her day on the mound with two strikeouts in the fifth inning, finishing with 11 strikeouts in 17 at-bats.
“(Maddie) is an amazing player. She helps her teammates get together. She is a pitcher and a four batter, and as a sophomore it’s very impressive,” said Salem coach Mariah Tebo. “She’s also very humble, so if you talk to her she’ll point you in the direction of her teammates. She’s just an amazing player to have on your team.”
Salem tallied six additional runs in the fifth inning, recording five consecutive hits that resulted in runs scored. An RBI single by Mikayla Morales ended the game via mercy rule.
The Blue Devils totaled 13 hits on the day, and every batter in the lineup reached base at least once.
“The focus of this year has been playing for each other and not for ourselves, and we’ve been embodying a ‘we over me’ philosophy,” said Tebo. “I think it really showed through in our last few games.”
Salem will now travel to Plymouth State on Tuesday to face top seed and two-time defending D-I state champ Londonderry in the state semifinal at 7 p.m.