EHS Softball Drops 2–1 Heartbreaker in State Tourney Opener
The Everett High softball team dropped a heartbreaking 2-1 decision at Concord-Carlisle in a preliminary round contest of the Division 1 MIAA state softball tournament
The Lady Crimson Tide entered the tourney as the 33rd seed in D-1, while the host Lady Patriots came in as the 32nd seed.
The contest was a scoreless duel through the first three innings until Concord-Carlisle broke through for two runs in the fourth. Everett responded with a run in the fifth, but that would prove to be as close as the Lady Crimson Tide would get on the day.
EHS star pitcher Celeste Fuccillo tossed all six innings, allowing just four hits and the two earned runs, while striking out five Lady Patriots and walking only one.
Concord-Carlisle scored its runs when the #3 Lady Patriot batter in the C-C line-up doubled and came home on a base hit by the C-C cleanup hitter, with the runner just beating the throw to the plate.
The clean-up hitter tried to advance to second on the throw home and ultimately was awarded third when the umpire ruled — in a seldomly-seen call — that the Everett girl taking the throw at second from EHS catcher Kaylee Rossi was obstructing the base runner.
She then scored on a base hit to right field.
Everett responded with a run in the fifth when Emma Longmore doubled with one out, moved to third on a passed ball, and scooted home on a sacrifice bunt by Jayla Davila.
The Lady Crimson Tide went down 1-2-3 in the sixth and made a last-ditch effort in the seventh when Bryanna Mason singled with two outs, but that would be as close as Everett would get to notching the equalizer.
The Lady Crimson Tide had their opportunities throughout the game to break the game open.
Everett threatened to score in the opening inning when Longmore reached second on an overthrow to first of her ground ball and Rossi drew a base on balls, but a timely hit was not to be had.
Everett again put two runners on base in the second inning on base hits by Gianna Masucci and Fuccillo, but could not produce any runs.
There was more frustration for Everett In the fourth when Masucci singled and stole second, but was left stranded.
The Everett defense was superb throughout the contest, the highlight of the day coming in the sixth when, after a Lady Patriot base hit with one out, shortstop Masucci snared a grounder, stepped on the bag at second for the force, and then threw to Mason at first for the double-play.
“This was a tough loss because defensively, our girls played amazingly,” said EHS head coach Stacy Schiavo, who earlier this season notched her 300th career coaching victory. “Offensively, we just could not get the hits. We made contact, but just hit the ball right at their fielders.
“I thought that after the double play, when the girls were hyped up, that we would have come around, but it didn’t happen,” Schiavo continued. “We practiced all week with the batting cages and just couldn’t get the hits when we needed them.
“A 2-1 loss is harder to swallow than 10-0,” Schiavo added. “We knew this team was beatable, so losing by one run hurts.”
Despite the season-ending loss, Schiavo and her crew have much to be proud of for their outstanding 2022 campaign, their first full season in three years.
“We still have the co-GBL championship this season, as well as the long-lasting friendships that they made,” said Schiavo. “This team showed such heart throughout the season. After the first week, you could see everyone forming friendships, hearing words of encouragement when they made mistakes, and team bonding.
“This was such a great group of kids to coach,” Schiavo continued. “We only lose two seniors this year, so I am hoping for a repeat for the GBL.”
Fuccillo turned in one of the most-memorable performances ever by a Lady Crimson Tide pitcher.
Celeste struck out 203 opponents in just 107 innings of work. She tossed five shutouts, including two no-hitters and a perfect game, and finished with an ERA of 2.80.
In the hitting department, the top Lady Crimson Tide performers at the plate were: Kristi Skane with 20 singles, seven doubles, two triples, two homers, 19 RBI, a batting average of .437, and a slugging percentage of .676; Emma Longmore with 19 singles, seven doubles, two triples, one homer, seven RBI, a batting average of .403, and a slugging percentage of .59; and Emilia Maria-Babcock with 19 singles, seven doubles, nine RBI. a batting average of .473, and a slugging percentage of .600.
Speedy Jayla Davila led Everett with 33 runs scored, followed by Emma Longmmore with 30, Kayley Rossi with 27, and Kristi Skane with 25. In the fielding stats, the top performers were: Bryanna Mason with seven assists, 78 putouts, and a fielding percentage of .944; Emma Longmore with 23 assists, 14 putouts, and fielding percentage of.860; and Gianna Masucci with 25 assists, 11 putouts, and a fielding percentage of .818