The Woburn High softball team is moving on as the Tanners defeated league-rival Burlington in a tight battle.

The Tanners beat the Red Devils 7-5 last Thursday afternoon in the MIAA Div. 2 preliminary round. These two teams had already met twice in the regular season and split 1-1, so both teams knew it would come right down to the end.

Woburn moved on to the Round of 32 where the girls faced fifth-seeded Westfield on Sunday.

The Tanners were led by their senior captains in this one as Avery Simpson (2 for 2, three-run home run), Grace Forsythe (two-run single), Riley Trask (2 for 2) sparked the offense and Hannah Niemszyk pitched a great game in the circle.

For Burlington, senior captain Alyssa Matarazzo pitched a solid game and senior captain Madison King (3 for 4) picked up her 120th career hit in the first inning, which is a Burlington High record.

Woburn coach Jenny Lee was so proud of her team for the way the Tanners executed and played together.

“It is always a battle with Burlington,” said Lee. “There is just something in the air when we play them. They play scrappy and their outfield killed us today for a bit, but the hits fell when they needed to fall and that is what happens when we hit the ball hard all game long. Our four senior captains had huge days and they all really stepped up for us. It was just a great team win, Hannah (Niemszyk) pitched well and kept us in it the whole game. They should just be really proud of themselves and now we get ready for Westfield.”

Both teams threatened with base runners in the first innings, but both Niemszyk and Matarazzo looked solid in the early going.

Niemszyk worked around a one-out single by Lexie Carmody in the top of the second and Matarazzo retired the Tanners in order in the bottom half to keep the game scoreless.

In the top of the third, Burlington struck for the game’s first runs.

Izzy Ortiz walked to begin the inning and Shayla Kocur followed that up with a double putting runners on second and third.

Next batter, King hit an RBI single scoring Ortiz to make it 1-0 and Alivia Imbimbo followed that up with an RBI single of her own to put the Red Devils in front 2-0.

It didn’t take long for Woburn to respond right back as freshman Olivia Lounsbury led off the bottom of the third with a triple.

She was brought home on a Trask RBI hit to make it 2-1.

Later in the inning with two runners on, Simpson smashed a three-run home run over the fence in right field to give Woburn its first lead of the game at 4-2.

Both teams had quiet fourth innings as the Tanners were holding on to their 4-2 lead heading into the fifth inning.

In the top of the fifth with two runners on and two outs, Matarazzo reached on an error leading to a run making it a 4-3 game. Next batter, Sofia Pantojas singled up the middle to tie the game at four.

Woburn yet again responded right back. Trask led off the bottom of the fifth with an infield single and quickly stole second. Two batters later Simpson walked and then Forsythe came up clutch with a huge two-run single to put Woburn back on top 6-4.

Niemszyk worked a 1-2-3 top of the sixth in impressive fashion and in the bottom of the sixth Woburn added one more run to extend their lead to 7-4 heading into the final inning of play.

Imbimbo reached on an error to begin the top of the seventh. Two batters later, Ella Anderson singled putting two runners on with one out. Niemszyk then got Carmody to strike out but on the throw down to first base, the run came home making it 7-5.

Niemszyk stayed composed and got the final out on a groundout, sealing the big tournament win for the Tanners.

Burlington finishes off their 2025 season 10-9 and has much to be proud of.