EHS baseball team opens with 6-2 win
The Everett High baseball team opened a new season and a new era with a 6-2 victory at Saugus Monday afternoon.
The triumph marked the inaugural contest for the Crimson Tide in their new league, the Northeastern Conference, into which Everett and the remaining three schools (Malden, Medford, and Somerville) from the venerable Greater Boston League have merged.
Everett junior Jalil Marinez, who was named the GBL’s Most Valuable Player in 2016, tossed five strong innings, yielding only two runs, before giving way to Marc Faia, who hurled two shutout frames to earn the save. Faia ended the contest with a bit of drama, getting out of a bases-loaded jam with two outs in the bottom of the seventh.
Senior and four-year starter Bryan Bessler crossed the plate for the first-ever run for Everett as a member of the NEC in the opening inning, courtesy of an RBI-single by Monte Mack. Ryan Snook made it 2-0 with an RBI-hit in the second inning and the Tide put the contest away with four markers in the fourth.
Key hits that produced RBI in the four-run fourth rally came off the bats of Jason Hennessey and Snook and off the body of Chris Bouche, who was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to force in a run.
“It was a beautiful day for baseball,” said EHS head coach Joe Lento, who guided the Crimson Tide to what would prove to be the last-ever GBL baseball title last year. “Our defense was solid and we made all of the routine plays.
“Our lone negative aspect was some poor judgment on the basepaths, which took us out of a couple of rallies,” added Lento. “But all in all, we played well and I was very pleased with the team’s performance, especially considering that our pre-season was confined to the indoors for almost the entire spring.”
Lento and his crew have a busy week ahead with five games in 10 days as they head into the heart of their season. They will host Gloucester today (Wednesday) at Glendale Park; entertain non-league foe Methuen Saturday morning at 10:00; travel to Salem on the holiday on Monday morning; return home next Wednesday to take on Peabody; and then entertain Revere next Friday.
Everett will tangle with all 15 of the teams in the NEC once and play five contests with non-league rivals.
Leg Work
Gilly Desouza joins Boston FC soccer club
By Cary Shuman
Gilly Desouza was a four-year player for the Everett High School football team, beginning as a placekicker and later starting at safety, wide receiver, and quarterback.
He was a key contributor on three Division 1 Super Bowl state championship teams, breaking the all-time PAT record held by his predecessor, Igor Garcia. He hung up his football shoes and pursued a soccer career at Division I UMass/Lowell as a scholarship player.
“My little brother, Gabe, is now the placekicker for Everett so I was there this season a lot to give him my support,” said Gilly proudly. “He has the potential to be a better kicker than I was if he focuses on it and keeps working at it.”
Now 23 years old, Gilly is set to graduate from UMass/Lowell with a degree in Accounting. He played three years of college soccer and is beginning his second season as a member of the Boston City FC Lions who will be playing their first home game April 29 at Malden Catholic’s Brother Gilbert Stadium.
Though his sports career is all soccer now, he has fond memories of suiting up for coach John DiBiaso’s Crimson Tide football team.
“My biggest kick was probably the PAT that beat Barnstable (20-19) in the Super Bowl,” he recalled. “I hit a 45-yard field goal against Xaverian and that was the longest of my career. Jonathan [DiBiaso] was the quarterback and then I became the quarterback in my senior year. Coach DiBiaso was very good to me. Football is something that I’ll always miss but soccer is a sport that I’ve always loved since I was a little kid.”
Desouza keeps in touch with his former teammates, including All-Scholastic lineman John Montelus, who will be playing at the University of Virginia this season after four years at Notre Dame.
The son of Sergio Desouza and Celia Desousa, Gilly came to the United States from Brazil at the age of seven.
“I grew up playing soccer in Brazil and I have a really good opportunity with the Boston FC to continue playing in the sport and we’ll see where it leads to – hopefully pro soccer, that’s the goal.”
Michael Preston, director of media relations, said that Desousa will be an impact player for Boston FC.
“Gilly is a great player in terms of transitioning from defense to offense and charging the ball downfield and becoming an offensive threat,” said Preston. “We had a game last year when he broke downfield and scored the winning goal. He’s athletic and a quality player.”
Head coach Palhinha, who played for the Brazilain national team, also has high hopes for Desousa’s contribution to Boston FC.
“Gilly is a very good player, especially with his excellent defensive skills,” said Palhinha. “I feel he’s going to be a real leader for us. We’re excited to begin our new season and thrilled to have Gilly on our team.”