Alyx Rossi out-does herself, tossing perfect game and blasting two homers to keep Bedford softball dancing

Boston Globe

2 days ago

The knock paid dividends, as Rossi finished what she started, striking out 16 Duxbury hitters Wednesday to cement her second perfect game of the season. The Boston College-bound southpaw, who recently eclipsed 900 career strikeouts, fueled Bedford to a 10-0 second-round triumph in the Division 2 tournament at Helen Gfroerer Field.
Rossi also blasted two solo home runs, helping the third-seeded Buccaneers (19-1) move within three wins of their first state title since 1990. Rossi, who transferred back to Bedford from Austin Prep as a junior, is grateful for one final ride with her sister, Annie, and childhood friends.
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'We're all feeding off each other, celebrating each other, and picking each other up,' Rossi said.
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Alyx Rossi poses with the game ball after pitching a perfect game to defeat Duxbury and adding two home runs.
Trevor Hass
It was a tough ending to a breakout season for the 19th-seeded Dragons (10-9), who will return the vast majority of their team next year after earning the program's first tournament victory since 2013 this spring.
The Dragons made Rossi work, and flew around in the field, yet simply ran into a buzz saw earlier than they would have liked.
'It's difficult to put into words the work that they put in and the turnaround that they had at the speed and the pace that they had it,' said Duxbury coach Mike Barba. 'It's a great group of girls, off the field more importantly. I'm super proud of them. The sky's the limit going forward.'
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But on this day, the Dragons had no answers for Rossi, who smacked the first pitch she saw over the right-field fence, then Becca Sobol extended the Buccaneers' margin to 3-0 through two innings.
Kate Patterson provided a two-run double, Alice Cooprider and Mia Vitti ripped RBI singles, and Rossi added another homer for good measure.
'Yesterday, we ended practice a little early,' said Bedford coach Dennis Walsh. 'I said anyone who wants to stay, we'll do a little extra. She stayed for extra batting practice, and it paid off. I asked her if I could get a little bit of credit.'
Rossi made it clear success belongs to the entire program, but it's clear the Buccaneers will continue to lean on her overpowering repertoire as they try to make history.
Next up is a date with No. 6 Tewksbury on Sunday, in a rematch of last year's quarterfinal, won 2-0 by Bedford. The Buccaneers made the quarterfinals two years ago, the semifinals last year, and are determined to go the distance this spring.
'We set a goal at the start of the year,' Walsh said. 'Finals or bust.'
Division 2 State
Tewksbury 6, Reading 5 —
With two outs and the tying runner on third base, Redmen pitcher Gabe Davis jammed the Rockets hitter into a pop-fly to center field as sixth-seeded Tewksbury (19-3) held on for a dramatic second-round win against No. 11 Reading (19-3). 'Keep cool, hit spots,' said Tewksbury coach Kirsten Dick, on the mentality against the final batter. 'If you miss your spots, we have a problem.' She praised Davis for staying cool, calm, and collected in a hectic final frame. 'Other pitchers could let that internalize and she doesn't let that get to her,' said Dick. Sydney Whalen drove in three runs (a two-run single and a sac fly), leading a balanced offensive attack in which four players recorded an RBI. For Dick, a first-year coach, the ride continues. 'It's been surreal,' she said. 'I didn't know what to expect coming in. I know that Tewksbury is a great program and has been for years.'
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Globe correspondent Cam Kerry contributed to this report.
Trevor Hass can be reached at