The Everett High softball team dropped a tough 6-5 decision at Framingham last Tuesday in an opening round contest of the Division 1 North Sectional of the MIAA State Softball Tournament.
EHS coach Stacy Poste’s squad entered the tourney as the ninth seed in the North Sectional with a 14-6 regular season record. Framingham was the eighth seed with a 15-5 mark.
The contest had been postponed several times because of inclement weather, which meant that Everett had a layoff of 10 days from its last regular season contest.
Framingham grabbed an early 1-0 lead in the opening frame and tacked on another marker in the second to make it 2-0 off EHS pitcher Franki Perreault, who went all six innings and allowed only four earned runs. However, Perreault walked one and hit three Framingham batters, an indication of the effect of the long layoff.
The Lady Crimson Tide bounced back with a three run uprising in the third thanks to a bases loaded triple by Erin McLaughlin that brought in teammates Sophia Marchant (who was a courtesy runner for Perreault, who had walked), Kayla Lombardo (who had singled), and Taylor Sweeney (who had drawn a base on balls).
But Framingham regained the lead with a four run rally in the bottom of the inning to make it a 6-3 affair, helped by a costly Everett error. Still, the Lady Crimson Tide refused to yield and put two runs up on the board in the fifth to draw within 6-5.
McLaughlin once again came through with the big hit, a two run homer that scored Sweeney, who had reached on another base on balls. Lombardo had singled to start the frame, but her courtesy runner, Talia Mirra, was thrown out at second on an attempted steal, which in retrospect could have represented the tying run.
However, that would prove to be as close as Everett would get, thus bringing to a close a stellar campaign that saw Poste and her crew open the season with a softball trip to Disney World and achieve a record that once again marked the Everett softball program as one of the best in the state.
“The loss was a real heartbreaker, because after the third inning our defense was strong, not allowing anyone on base with nine consecutive outs,” said Poste. “That third inning killed us, especially with the bottom of their lineup hitting triples and us making some costly errors.
“We have been saying since the beginning of the season that we need to get the hits when we need them and early,” continued the coach. “When other teams start to hit the ball, I feel that we forget to use the cutoff and we start making unnecessary throws and errors. Our consistent hitters were not on their game today and it hurt us in the end.”
However, Poste concluded, “This is a GREAT group of kids and I really would have liked to have had them face Malden again,” she said, referring to their archrival and GBL champ. “Four of the five seniors have been with me and (assistant coach) Nuzz’ for the past four years and it was hard to say good-bye to them.”
FUN-damental Basketball Camp to start July 30
The eighth annual FUN-damental Basketball Camp, open to boys and girls in the local area, will be held July 30-August 3, 2012 (boys); and August 6-10, 2012 (girls), at the Immaculate Conception Parish Center, located at 51 Summer Street in Everett.
The camp will be held between the hours of 9 am and 1 pm for boys and girls entering grades 3 thru 9 as of September 2012. The cost of the camp is $100.
Tony Ferullo, boys’ varsity basketball coach at Mystic Valley Regional Charter School in Malden, will be the Director of the boys camp. Jason Cantwell, girls’ varsity basketball coach at Mystic Valley Regional Charter School, will be the Director of the girls’ camp.
The purpose of the camp is:
To provide all campers with the fundamental tools to help them become better basketball players;
To create a positive atmosphere where the camper will learn and have fun at the same time; and
To instill the spirit of the game into all campers, and inspire them to continue playing the game either competitively or just for fun.
Each camper, who will receive a T-shirt, certificate and medal, will participate in various drills, scrimmages and individual contests. Special guests will speak and share their personal basketball tips. An awards ceremony will take place on the last day of the camp, and parents and friends are welcome to attend.
For more information about the FUN-damental Basketball Camp, please contact Boys’ Camp Director Tony Ferullo at 857-312-7002, or Girls’ Camp Director Jason Cantwell at 978-430-3618.