EHS Roundup
Showdown for GBL baseball title today
All the marbles will be on the line today (Wednesday) when the Everett High baseball team meets Medford for the undisputed championship of the Greater Boston League. The first pitch at the Mustangs’ Playstead Park is scheduled for 4:00.
The Crimson Tide set the stage for the title showdown with a 4-3 victory over GBL foe Somerville in extra innings Monday.
Everett’s starting pitcher, sophomore Jason Hennessey, was cruising along with a one-hit shutout and a 3-0 lead through five innings when the Highlanders erupted for six hits and three runs in the top of the sixth.
Marc Faia came on in the seventh to quell the Highlanders both in that frame as well as in the eighth. Faia’s fine relief work set the stage for Everett’s walk-off win in the bottom of the eighth thanks to a lead-off triple by Ken Delorey and a base hit to right by Monte Mack (who was 2-for-4 on the day) to deliver his teammate across the plate with the winning run.
Junior catcher Evan Reynolds turned in an outstanding, all-around game for coach Joe Lento. Evan went 3-for-4 at bat with a single, a double, a triple, and two RBI. In his duties behind the plate, Reynolds threw out a Somerville runner at second on a steal attempt and caught a pop-up bunt that squelched a potential Somerville rally.
“The game was a lot closer than we would have liked,” said Lento. “But we played well in the field, committing no errors, and our pitchers did not walk any Somerville batters.”
A victory today against Medford not only will give Lento and his crew the GBL title, but also will qualify them automatically for a berth in the post-season MIAA state tournament.
If they are unsuccessful, the Crimson Tide (who presently are 7-7 on the season) will need to win three more games in order to achieve the necessary .500 record for state tourney qualification.
They face Winthrop Monday afternoon at Bentley College; host Revere Tuesday at Glendale in a contest that will be highlighted by Senior Day activities; meet Pope John Wednesday; and then trek to Peabody Saturday and Sunday to take part in a Memorial Day tournament.
Everett High softball team defeats Malden, Swampscott
The Everett High softball team enjoyed a solid week with a pair of victories.
Last Monday the Lady Crimson Tide defeated Malden, 5-3. Grace Mullaly went all the way in the pitcher’s circle, allowing just two hits and two earned runs. Grace fanned three enemy batters and walked an equal number.
After spotting Malden a 1-0 lead in the opening inning, Everett responded with a marker when Hailey Powers tripled and came home on an RBI base hit by Talia Riccioli.
A two-out rally in the second frame produced two more Everett runs. Diana Concannon got the Lady Crimson rolling with a base hit. After Erin Bessler drew a walk, Sam Uga came through with a base hit to bring in Concannon. Erica Ginepra then delivered another base hit to score Bessler.
Everett tacked on what would prove to be the game-winner in the third inning. Riccioli doubled, stole third, and scored on a ground-out.
Malden got back on the board with a solo run in the fourth, but Everett responded with a tally in the fifth. Riccioli once again manufactured the run when she drew a walk, moved to second on a sacrifice bunt, stole third, and strode home on a base hit into the outfield by Kaylee Nearen.
The Lady Golden Tornados rallied for a run in the seventh, but by then it was too little, too late.
“We committed four errors this game, but they didn’t hurt us because we hit the ball well and scored when we needed to,” noted EHS head coach Stacy Poste. “The last time we played Malden, we didn’t get around on the pitcher. We have been cranking the pitching machine up and the girls have been hitting well off it.
“Grace pitched very well and we made the plays defensively when Malden did put the ball in play,” added Poste.
This past Thursday the Lady Crimson Tide topped Swampscott, 7-3. Mullaly once again tossed all seven innings, yielding just six hits, while fanning two and walking six.
The Lady Crimson Tide erased a 1-0 Swampscott lead with a barrage of seven runs in the fourth off Swampscott’s star pitcher, Hannah Leahy.
Samantha Uga got things going with a one-out single. Ginepra followed with a base hit and Powers smacked a double, knocking in Uga.
Another hit by Riccioli delivered Ginepra and a two-bagger by Nalani Marinez brought across Powers. Kloey Cardillo singled into the outfield, scoring Marinez, and took second on the play at home. Concannon singled to score Kloey and Uga came through with her second hit of the inning to bring in Concannon.
“These were the best at-bats I have seen with these girls this season,” said Poste. “Usually, we have one good hit here and there, but to do this off this pitcher — seven hits in a row — was nice to see. Our spirits were up and we wanted to beat this team since they had beaten us 17-3 in our first game.”
Swampscott threatened to get back into the game in the fourth, scoring one run and loading the bases with one out. However, the Everett defense held firm, making the final two outs to get out of the inning.
In the seventh, a Swampscott girl homered and the Lady Big Blue had runners at second and third with two outs. However, Mulally fanned the final Swampscott batter to end the game with a flourish.
The Lady Crimson Tide suffered a 9-4 setback Friday at Cambridge. Highlights for Everett included a two-run triple by Powers in the third inning and a two-run fourth frame in which Marinez, Cardillo, and Concannon all singled and Uga delivered a base hit for two RBI.
Poste and her crew were set to meet Somerville this past Monday and host Medford today (Wednesday). They trek to Tewksbury tomorrow.