Skane’s Skein Continues, EHS Softball Team at 6–0
The Everett High softball team continued to mow down its opponents through the first part of the season with a trio of runaway victories this past week.
EHS pitcher Kristi Skane picked up three more “Ws”, tossing 16 innings in which she fanned 26 enemy hitters.
The Lady Crimson Tide opened their week with an 18-0 blanking of Greater Boston League (GBL) opponent Lynn English last Wednesday at Glendale Park. The Lady Bulldogs threatened in the top of the first, placing runners at second and third with one out. However, Skane struck out a Lynn hitter for the second out and left fielder Arabella Cvitkusic snared a line drive to end the threat.
“This last out was a huge catch to save the runners from scoring,” said EHS head coach Stacy Poste-Schiavo.
However, any thought that the visiting Lady Bulldogs may have had of making it a ballgame disappeared in the bottom of the first with a six-run outburst by the Lady Crimson Tide.
Skane gave herself all of the runs she would need with a bases-loaded base hit for two RBI. Alexis Uga delivered a two-run triple and then two walks with the bases-loaded accounted for the 6-0 lead.
Ashley Seward socked a two-RBI triple in the second and came home on a ground out by Cvitkusic to make it 9-0.
Everett tacked on four more markers in the third, with Bryanna Mason delivering a three-run homer to key the rally. Bryanna came through with another three-run homer in the following inning to place an exclamation point on the Everett victory.
“We had some players in different positions because a few players were out,” noted Poste-Schiavo. “Everyone did an amazing job. When the girls had an opportunity to hit, they hit hard and made the runs count. Kristi did amazingly on the mound, throwing to sophomore catcher Emilia Marie-Babcok. The defense was on their game again.”
Two days later the Lady Crimson Tide trekked to non-league foe Cambridge and came home with a 9-1 victory.
Skane went the entire seven inning route, striking out 12 opponents, while walking only one and yielding just five hits.
Cambridge took a 1-0 lead in the first inning with a two-out rally on a triple and a base hit, but that would prove to be the apogee for the Lady Falcons on the day against Skane.
The Lady Crimson Tide struck back for three runs in the second, with a bases-loaded single by Mason and a clutch, two-out, two-RBI base hit by Marie-Babcock producing the tallies.
Everett put some distance between the teams with a three-run rally in the fourth on RBI base hits by Emma Longmore and Marie-Babcock. The Crimson Tide defense also shone in the bottom of the inning when Longmore snared a line drive at second and threw tio first to double-up a Cambridge runner who had singled to lead off the inning.
Everett tacked on additional tallies in the fifth and sixth frames to account for the 9-1 finale.
“This was a non-league game and it was nice to play Cambridge again,” said Poste-Schiavo. “Their pitcher had some decent speed on her, but once we started hitting, she started to get a little wild.
“We did leave too many runners on base,” the coach continued. “Again, Kristi Skane and (catcher) Kayley Rossi controlled the tempo of the game. Cambridge had some decent hitters and hit the ball hard a few times. However, our defense made the plays when needed. Emma Longmore’s double play was much needed at the right time. I am happy to see the girls are getting up at the plate with more confidence and producing hits. We have 15 games left and we still are focusing on one game at a time.”
This past Monday morning the Everett squad made the trip to Somerville and came home with another runaway triumph.
The Lady Crimson Tide scored early and often, grabbing a 4-0 lead in the top of the first thanks to a two-run “bomb” of a home run off the bat of Uga and an RBI double by Rossi.
In the second, the EHS bats kept up the fireworks (which were very appropriate to celebrate the Patriots Day holiday) with Marie-Babcock blasting a three-run homer and Skane tripling and scoring on a base hit by Rossi, who then delivered a solo homer in the third as part of another Everett rally.
Seward joined in the roundtripper parade with a three-run homer in the fourth to cap an Everett rally that boosted the Lady Crimson Tide into a commanding 18-3 advantage.
“This was the inning we knew we had to secure more runs,” said Poste-Schiavo. “Somerville was hitting the ball and we could not afford to allow them to get on. The grass was wet and the ball was moving when it made contact. They had switched out their pitcher after the third hit-by-pitch and we had to adjust to the new pitcher. We had to end up waiting on the ball and getting the timing right, which we did well.”
Somerville responded with three runs in the bottom of the fourth, but the Lady Crimson Tide got those back in the top of the fifth on a “bomb” of a home run by Cvitkusic to lead off the inning and a triple by Marie-Babock that scored Longmore, who had singled. Babcock came across on a sac fly by Skane and, after Rossi doubled and Uga singled, Seward put an exclamation point on the day with another home run for the 26-6 finale..
Peyton Warren came on in the fifth to take over the pitching duties to finish off the victory.
“I never like to get that many runs, but I also did not want to hold the girls at bases when they earned the hits they got,” said Poste-Schiavo. “Again, the pitchers did great controlling the ball during the rain and although we made some errors out in the field, we bounced back with hits.”
The Lady Crimson Tide travel to Revere this morning (Wednesday) and will host no-league opponent Latin Academy on Friday. Both games are at 10:00.
What looms as an early-season showdown for first place in the GBL is set for Monday when Everett hosts Medford Monday afternoon at Glendale at 4:00. They will entertain Malden next Wednesday at Glendale at 4:00.
Boys Volleyball Wins Two Matches
The Everett High boys volleyball team earned its first two victories of the season, defeating Greater Boston League (GBL) rivals Lynn Classical in five sets at home on Monday and then sweeping Lynn English on the road Wednesday.
Coach Michael Fineran’s Crimson Tide now stand at 2-3 on the season, with home matches this week at 11:30 in the morning against Revere today (Wednesday) and Somerville tomorrow (Thursday). The Tide will trek to Medford on Monday and return home to entertain Malden next Wednesday.
“In 15 matches over two seasons, we have gone to the fifth set 11 times,” said Fineran. “We were 6-2 in five-set matches last year, so we’re used to playing them. But in the opening week of the season, we didn’t make enough plays to come out on top, so It felt good to see us put it all together and come out with the win on Monday.”
The first set with the visiting Rams from Lynn Classical showed that it would be a close match that could go either way.
.EHS senior captain Dimitar Dimitrov served six in a row with two aces to put Everett up 10-7, and then served the final four points to seal the set, 25-19. Senior co-captain Said Soaib had four kills and junior Andrew Linhares had four kills and a block.
The second set did not start off well for Everett. The Tide missed two serves early on and had trouble handling the Rams’ serves, leaving Everett in a 13-7 hole that they couldn’t dig out of. Dimitrov had five serves in a row to pull Everett to 23-21, but that’s as close as the Tide would get.
The Everett offense returned for the third set, with sophomore setter Dantae Bauer distributing eight assists and recording three kills of his own, including the game-winner, as Everett went up 2-1 with a 25-22 win.
But in the fourth set, the Tide missed four serves and earned only four kills, dropping the set, 25-18. One bright spot was the play of junior Kalleb Miranda, who had three of his five blocks in the set.
“That gave us a different dimension to exploit in the fifth set,” noted Fineran.
Linhares, serving for the first time in the match in the fifth set, dropped in two aces in five serves to build a 6-2 lead. Sophomore Jefferson Umana followed up with his own run of two aces in five serves, putting Everett up 11-3. Sophomore Henrique Franca aced the next two serves for a 14-6 lead, and Dimitrov ended the match with a kill.
“It was good to see us step up and play at our best with the game on the line,” said Fineran. “We had some flashes in the first week, but we didn’t know how to put matches away. We figured it out Monday, and then carried that momentum with us on the road on Wednesday at Lynn English, earning 41 kills in the straight-set victory.”
Seventeen of those kills came from Franca, who set the tone early, with three service points, six kills, and a block in the opening-set, 25-18 win. Miranda had five kills in the match, and sophomore Steve Flores anchored the back row defense. Linhares had four kills and two blocks. Umana and Soaib each served 13 times.
Everett pulled away midway through the second set, building an 18-11 lead behind Franca’s serving and spiking, before a kill from Miranda closed out the set, 25-17.
Everett built a 7-1 lead in the third set, and serves from junior Hyan Soares and Umana helped to push the lead to 24-13. A Bulldog missed serve gave Everett the win.
“It was the first time this season that we put together a complete match, and we showed ourselves what happens when we stay aggressive,” Fineran said. “If we get our serves in and make good passes, we can make a good run at the postseason. We will have to overcome an injury to junior middle Dawens Germain, and we will be without Franca for the matches over April Break, but we have depth to keep us in any match.”
EHS Boys Track Runs Past Medford
The Everett High boys track and field team improved to 2-0 on the season with a hard-fought 72-64 decision over Greater Boston League rival Medford last week.
Coach Jehu Cimea’s squad was led by a trio of double-winners:
Senior captain Sjhinay Aristhene took first place in the 400 meter hurdles with a clocking of 1:03.5 and in the 110 high hurdles with a time of 17.7.
Junior newcomer Shane MacKenzie was a double-victor once again with a pair of victories in the discus and the javelin. Shane’s discus toss of 111’-0” was a personal record (PR) that was a full 20 feet further than his nearest Mustang rival. His javelin throw of 115’-9” was 4’-6” further than the second-place Medford competitor.
Junior captain Jalen Jones, who was competing for the first time this season, also scored 10 points for the Tide, capturing the high jump with a leap of 5’-8” and the triple jump with a hop, skip, and jump of 39’-1.5”.
Four other Crimson Tide performers won their respective events: Junior Joao Pedro Rodriguez took the long jump with a PR flight of 19’-0.5; senior captain Samuel Desir-Mafaouana captured the mile with a clocking of 5:14.8; junior Jayden Prophete sped to first in the 100 meter dash with a PR sprint of 10.9; and senior Matth Telson won the 800 meter race in a time of 2:14.6.
Junior Donald Michel accounted for six points on the day with a pair of second-place performances in the 110 hurdles in a time of 18.2 and the high jump with a leap of 5’-6”.
Adding three points to the Everett cause with second-place finishes were: sophomore Elijah Lassiter in the 400 hurdles with a PR of 1:07.3; freshman Kayshaun Eveillard in the 400 dash in 54.4; and junior Donald Stark in the shot-put with a throw of 26’-2”.
Contributing single points with third-place efforts were: Freshman Jonathan Goes in the javelin (83’-6”); junior Adoni Santos in the shot (34’-6.5”); senior Adail Costa Fernandes in the triple jump (38’-4”); senior Reklov Lageroy in the 200 dash (23.5); senior Fludjy Moise in the 400 dash (55.4); sophomore Jaiden Williams in the 100 dash (11.4); and senior Anthony Cooper in the two-mile (12:22).
Cimea and his crew are scheduled to take on Malden today (Wednesday) and Chelsea next Thursday.
Desrameaux Sets New EHS Mark in Shot-Put
Another chapter was written last week in the ongoing, see-saw saga between junior teammates Darrynn Desrameaux and Layla Betancur-Cardona for the Everett High school record in the shot-put when Darrynn claimed the record — which Layla had set the week before — with a throw of 31’-8” in the Lady Crimson Tide’s meet with Medford. Ironically, Layla’s toss of 31’-4” would have broken her own mark, but her teammate edged her out to claim the top spot in EHS annals — for now.
“The battle between Layla and Darrynn in the shot put is going to be so fun to watch this season,” said EHS head coach Jehu Cimea. “At any meet this season they can break the school record.”
Desrameaux was a double-winner for the Tide, also taking first place in the discus with a toss of 90’-2”, to score 10 points for the Lady Crimson Tide.
Other first-place winners for coach Jehu Cimea were junior Tiana Allen in the javelin with a throw of 72’-8”, junior Malaica Guillaume in the triple jump with a final landing of 29’-10”, and junior Nicole Brandao in the 110 meter high hurdles with a clocking of 19.6.
All three girls also grabbed second place in other events to finish with eight points each on the day: Guillaume in the 400 hurdles in a time of 1:23.4; Brandao in the long jump with a leap of 12’-10.75”; and Allen in the discus with a spin of 61’-11”.
Other second-place performers for Everett were: sophomore Yelsa Garcia in the 100 dash (13.7); senior captain Luca Jean Noel in the mile (6:55.3); senior Ida Bittaye in the 110 hurdles in 19.9; and junior Keasta Sandy in the javelin (70’-6”). Keasta also took third place in the high jump with a leap of 4’-4”.
Also adding single points with third-place finishes were: junior Victoria Macao in the javelin (63-10”, completing an Everett sweep in the event) and in the 200 dash (28.9); senior Lamiah Wyzard in the shot (24’-0”) that completed another EHS sweep; sophomore Mllena Antonio in the 800 (2:58.1); senior Selma Moutaouakkil in the 400 dash; and sophomore Zyelle Cannon in the 100 dash (13.9).
The final tally showed the Lady Mustangs prevailing by a score of 78-56.
Cimea and his crew are scheduled to meet Malden today (Wednesday) and Chelsea next Thursday.
Boys Tennis Treks to Revere Today
The Everett High boys tennis team is scheduled to travel to Greater Boston League (GBL) rival Revere today (Wednesday).
In their matches this past week, the Crimson Tide came up short to GBL foe Lynn English, 1-4, last Tuesday in which Shishir Pokhrel won his singles match.
Although the Tide dropped a 5-0 decision to non-league opponent Latin Academy, EHS head coach Greg Bluestein was able to use a number of his players in their first varsity match.
Bluestein and his crew entertain Medford next Monday and trek to Malden next Wednesday.
EHS Baseball Team Hosts Revere Today
The Everett High baseball team has a busy week ahead, with four games on tap in eight days.
Coach Joel Levine’s squad will host Greater Boston League rival Revere this morning (Wednesday) at 10:00 at Glendale Park and will travel to non-league opponent Charlestown on Friday for an 11:00 encounter.
They will travel to GBL rivals Medford and Malden next Monday and Wednesday respectively.
In their lone contest this past week, the Tide dropped a 10-5 decision at GBL foe Lynn English last Wednesday.
Everett jumped out to an early 3-0 lead in the top of the first, keyed by a two-run base hit by senior Matt Turilli. However, the advantage proved short-lived, as the Bulldogs struck back for four runs in their half of the inning.
Junior Alex Lara pitched four strong innings, giving up two earned runs. Turilli led the Tide offense with two hits.
“It was another game where early defensive miscues cost us some outs,” said Levine, whose team stands at 1-3. “Offensively, we left nine runners on base. We were unable to come up with the big hit while the game was close throughout the middle of the game. Again, our pitching was there, and if we can clean up our game defensively and come up with some timely hits, we will be in every game we play this season.“