It was a week of ups and downs for the Everett High softball team, as the Lady Crimson Tide posted a 14-6 win over Revere last Thursday, but dropped a 12-0 decision to Lynn Classical Monday.
“The Revere game featured the best hitting I’ve seen from this group,” said EHS head coach Stacey Poste, whose team also received a strong pitching effort from Michelle Zullo.
The Lady Crimson Tide got on the board in the opening inning when Amanda Ray reached first on an error and moved to second on a pass ball. Erin McLaughlin (3 for 3 with six RBI) then socked a double to bring Ray home.
Everett expanded its lead to 4-0 with three more tallies in the second. After Samantha Rebelo singled, Zullo bunted and reached first on an error, moving Rebelo to third. Taylor Sweeney then bunted and Rebelo scored after an error during a rundown situation. With runners on second and third, Zullo scored on a fielder’s choice and then Sweeney scored after she tagged up from third.
Revere closed the gap to 4-2 with two runs in the fifth inning on an error and a fielder’s choice, but the Lady Crimson Tide responded with four of their own in the bottom of the frame.
Kristie Welch led off with a single and Alea Martinelli slapped.a base hit to put runners at first and second. When Welch moved to third on a passed ball, Ray singled to bring in Welch. McLaughlin then tripled to rescue Martinelli and Ray and then scored herself on a fielder’s choice to leave matters at 8-2.
Revere continued to hang tough with two runs in the sixth on an error and a hit, but the Lady Crimson Tide sealed the deal with six markers in their half of the inning. Tory Cyrus singled, Welch bunted, and Martinelli bunted to fill the sacks. McLaughlin then delivered her second two bagger of the day to clear the bases and make it an 11-4 contest.
Another double by Rachel Pierce brought in McLaughlin and Rachel eventually scored on a fielder’s choice by Brianna Uga. Two tallies by Revere in the final inning left a final score of 14-6. Zullo hurled all seven frames, allowing just three hits and three earned runs while fanning five and walking three.
However, on Monday the Lady Crimson Tide endured what Poste termed, “The ugliest game I have ever seen. We lost by the mercy rule and I can’t remember ever having this happen to an Everett team. This was not the same group of players who have been practicing day in and day out on basic plays,” said the coach. “We made errors one after another and it just spiraled down from the first inning until the last play. I hope we have learned from this game and can move on and make the fundamental plays. This is such a better team than this score shows.”
Stephanie Chaves pitching five innings, whiffing seven Classical batters, walking four, and yielding just three earned runs.
The Lady Crimson Tide had opened their season last Monday with a tough 2-0 loss at Arlington. Arlington scored both of its runs in the opening inning on a walk, a muffed infield pop up, an overthrow, and a base hit. After that, EHS hurler Zullo proved untouchable as she finished with a final line of allowing just one hit in six innings, striking out seven, walking three, and allowing no earned runs.
However, the only hits for Everett came off the bats of Welch and Pierce.
Poste and her crew are set for a busy week. They played at Swampscott yesterday (Tuesday) in a makeup of Friday’s rainout and travel to Marblehead today. They host Arlington in a rematch on Friday and will host Somerville next Tuesday.