It was a beautiful afternoon for softball on Monday at Mack Park, but the Salem High School Witches were overpowered by the visiting Rams from Lynn Classical, last year's division champions.

Classical starting pitcher Mackenzie Coppinger held the Witches without a hit and added a solo home run to power the Rams to an 8-0 win in the season opener.

Salem starting pitcher Sarah Chasse gave up a single run in the first inning and two more in the second, but the Witches' defense faltered in the fourth inning, when the Rams scored five unearned runs.

"Today we ran into a buzz saw, but it's a long season," Salem Head Coach Dan Bertone said. "We're just going to write this one off and go after the next one."

The Witches play Revere on Wednesday.