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The Manchester Essex softball team came into yesterday's season finale against Greater Lowell looking to accomplish two things:

First, the Hornets wanted to win their final game of the season, which would give them a better final record than last season.

The 2008 softball season was built for offense.

With the pitcher's mound moved from 40 to 43 feet, hitters can now tee off on opposing pitchers.

Despite the changes in the game being to their disadvantage, the pitching on Cape Ann has still been stellar. Gloucester, Rockport and Manchester Essex each have an ace pitcher they send to the mound every game in Jill Lukegord, Tia Nelson and Lindsey Cambridge, respectively. Collectively they have put up impressive pitching numbers in a sport all of a sudden dominated by offense.

Kendra Hobbs had an RBI single but Whittier fell to Manchester Essex 6-1. Jordan Silva went 2 for 5 with three RBIs and Sean Milley went 2 for 4 with a pair of RBIs.

Finding offense has been the Achilles' heel for the Manchester Essex softball team this season.

When the Hornets get base runners, they have been struggling to bring them in. However, that wasn't the problem yesterday against Masconomet. Powered by a six run first and second inning, the Hornets pounded the Chieftains, 19-1, at Sweeney Park.

In the game of softball, a win or a loss can come down to who gets timely hits, especially when the two teams are evenly matched. Sure enough, timely hitting was the difference in yesterday's Cape Ann League softball game between Manchester Essex and Lynnfield.

It all came down to one inning for the Manchester Essex softball team.

Trailing Rockport 3-2 going into the bottom of the seventh inning, the Hornets needed a player to step up and be a hero. Fortunately for Manchester Essex, Alex Zager and Patty Wright were up to the task.

Ipswich's junior ace Kerry Desmond might tell you she didn't have her best stuff since she issues five walks in a 9-0 win over Manchester Essex. But that would be mostly modesty talking.

Desmond tossed the first no-hitter of her career, fanning 11 Hornets en route to the historic ending.

Ipswich's junior ace Kerry Desmond might tell you she didn't have her best stuff since she issues five walks in a 9-0 win over Manchester Essex. But that would be mostly modesty talking.

Desmond tossed the first no-hitter of her illustrious career, fanning 11 Hornets en route to the historic ending.

Coach: Michael Mullarkey (third season)

Last year's record: 7-11

Key players: Lindsey Cambridge, Sr, P; Breezy DiPietro, Jr., SS/CF; Alex Zager, Sr., 3B.