The Everett High baseball and softball teams were awaiting the announcement yesterday (Tuesday) of their seedings and pairings for the MIAA Division I North Sectionals of the Massachusetts baseball and softball tournaments.
The EHS baseball team concluded an outstanding 15-5 regular season (including a 7-1 mark in the Greater Boston League to earn a league co-championship) with impressive victories over Bishop Fenwick and Andover last week.
In a 6-2 triumph in 10 innings over Fenwick, one of the top-ranked teams in Eastern Mass., Crimson Tide hurler Michael Rossi made his first start of the season and tossed a brilliant three-hitter over the course of his nine innings of work.
“Michael stepped up in a big-time way for us,” said EHS head coach Joe Lento of his junior righthander’s superb performance. “He pitched an outstanding game against one of the best teams on our schedule.”
Everett broke a 2-2 deadlock with a four run outburst in the top of the 10th frame. Justin Johnson got things going with a base hit and soon came around with what would prove to be the game-winning run on an RBI double by Stephen Faia. The Crimson Tide tacked on three more markers for added insurance. Lento brought in senior ace Zerif Pajazetovic in relief in the 10th to close out the win.
A 9-6 triumph at Andover proved a different kind of ballgame, but the result still showed another “W” in the win column for the Crimson Tide. Pajazetovic started and went six innings in which he struggled a bit. “Zerif did not have his best stuff, but he hung in there and did the job that we needed him to do,” said Lento. Lawrence Falter came on in the seventh frame to pick up the save.
Mike Vitukevich wielded a big bat for the Crimson Tide with two hits and three RBI. Shawn Doyle and Pajazetovic also had two hits apiece for the Everett offense.
Although their 15-5 mark ordinarily would have earned the Crimson Tide a home game in the tourney’s opening round, Everett has yet to play a home game all season because of the ongoing renovations to Glendale Park. Everett officials reportedly are seeking to use a nearby field that will be closer than going to whomever might be their first opponent.
As for the Lady Crimson Tide softball team, a pair of losses in three games in the last week of the 2013 campaign dropped Coach Stacy Poste’s Everett girls to a final record of 13-7 for the regular season. Everett defeated GBL foe Cambridge to finish at 6-2 in the GBL, good for second place behind 7-1 Medford, but then fell to non-league rivals Lexington and Swampscott.
Their 13-7 mark should assure them of a home game in the opening round.