The Everett High baseball team moved into sole possession of first place in the GBL with a 6-4 win over Cambridge last week.
The Crimson Tide led all the way, jumping out a 3-0 lead in the opening inning and adding two more in the second frame, and then maintaining their advantage behind the solid pitching of Shaun McGrath, who picked up his fourth “W” of the season. Shaun went six innings, allowing two earned runs and seven hits, while walking two and fanning four Cantab hitters.
However, McGrath needed some relief help in the seventh from Crimson Tide fireman extraordinaire Chris DiNapoli, who came on with one Cambridge run already in to quell the threat and earn the save.
Chris McCarthy led the Tide offensively, reaching base four times on two hits, a walk, and an HBP, stealing a base, scoring two runs, and delivering an RBI. Dan Concannon also had two hits, scored twice, walked, and added an RBI, while McGrath helped his own cause in a big way with a three for three effort at the plate and knocking in three runs, including a key two-out, two-run base hit in the first.
Everett then took care of business against another tough rival, Lynn Classical of the Northeastern Conference, with a 4-2 win on Saturday at Glendale. Senior southpaw Joe Saia hurled what EHS head coach Joe Marchese termed a “gem” as he struck out 11 Classical batters in a compete game effort. Joe spun a five hitter, walked only two, and allowed just one earned run.
However,. the contest was in doubt late into the game until the Tide erupted for three runs in the bottom of the sixth to erase a 2-1 Classical advantage. Everett was aided by some Classical fielding miscues and Concannon delivered a key hit for an RBI in the rally.
Matt Costello also had an RBI base hit earlier in the game
Everett now sits atop the GBL with a 5-1 mark, one game ahead of Cambridge. A victory over Malden yesterday (Tuesday) or at Medford tomorrow (Thursday) would clinch a share of the GBL title.
The Tide also are 9-5 overall and are one win away from clinching a state tourney berth. Marchese and his crew will host Marblehead on Saturday at 11:00.