EHS Roundup
EHS softball team defeats Salem, 9-7
The Everett High softball team finally got its season underway on the holiday on Monday, making its debut as a member of the Northeastern Conference with a 9-7 triumph over Salem at Glendale Park.
The Lady Crimson Tide grabbed a 1-0 lead in the first inning when Izza Bourouis reached base on a dropped third strike and Hailey Powers doubled, moving Bourois to third. A ground out by Maddy Duraes then brought in Bourois with the first run of the 2017 season.
In the third inning, Nalani Marinez drove in Duraes, who had reached first on a line-shot back to the mound, with a double. Although Nalani was thrown out at third trying to stretch her two-bagger into a triple, the Lady Crimson Tide tacked on two more runs in the frame thanks to a pair of Salem errors and a base hit by Diana Concannon.
Salem got on the board in the fourth to make it a 4-1 contest, but two more errors by Salem in the fifth allowed Everett to add two more markers and increase its lead to 6-1.
Salem reached EHS starting pitcher Grace Mullaly in the sixth for another solo tally, but the Lady Crimson Tide responded with three runs in the bottom of the inning. Concannon singled home Marinez, who was a thorn in Salem’s side all day, after Nalani had walked and stolen second, and then Diana trotted home ahead of Kaylee Nearen, when Kaylee blasted a two-run roundtripper.
However, despite trailing 9-3, Salem refused to quit and made a run in the top of the seventh, scoring five runs — all with two outs. Two walks, a two-RBI base hit, two more walks, and another two-RBI base hit closed the gap to 9-7, prompting EHS head coach Stacy Poste to make a pitching change. Poste brought in Ariana Garay, who walked her first batter, loading the bases, but who ended the game with a flourish striking out the Salem hitter.
Everett’s starting pitcher, Mullaly, tossed six and two-thirds innings, allowing five hits and five earned runs.
“Grace was having a great game until the seventh inning,” noted Poste. “Although we scored nine runs, we still didn’t hit the ball to the extent that I know the girls are capable of doing.
“This has been only our third time seeing live pitching, so I am hoping we will start settling into it,” added Poste. “The girls crush the pitching machine when we set it to 60.”
Poste and her crew were set to play at Peabody today (Wednesday) and will trek to Revere on Friday. They will host Malden Monday and entertain Winthrop next Wednesday.
Tough stretch for EHS baseball team
After making a successful debut in its new league, the Northeastern Conference, in the season-opener last week, the Everett High baseball team dropped its three contests this past week, falling to Gloucester, 4-2; non-league rival Methuen, 10-3; and Salem, 15-14.
A lack of hitting was a common element for the Crimson Tide in its first three games this season. In the initial two losses this past week, Everett mustered just four hits in the Gloucester game and only two in the Methuen encounter.
However, the Everett offense burst out in a big way against Salem, though after the Tide found themselves trailing by 11 runs. Jason Hennessey led the offensive onslaught for Everett with three hits and teammates Evan Reynolds and Ryan Snook both had two hits and two RBI. Both of Reynolds’s hits were for extra bases, a double and a triple.
“Although we lost, it was nice to see that the team didn’t give up, despite trailing by 11 runs,” said EHS coach Joe Lento. “Our bats finally came alive, which hopefully will continue in the games ahead.”
Lento and his crew, who now stand at 1-3 on the season (1-2 in the NEC), will be busy in the coming weeks. They host Peabody today (Wednesday) and Revere Friday and then will trek to Malden Monday and to Winthrop next Wednesday.