Softball roundup: Finocchio coaching debut a success in Saugus

The Saugus High softball team made sure Bobbie Finocchio’s coaching debut was a successful one with a 9-4 win over English Wednesday at Keaney Park.The Sachems only led by a run at the end of the fourth inning, but they gave themselves some breathing room with three runs in the fifth and two more in the sixth. Junior Ashlee Patterson struck out four, didn’t walk a batter and didn’t allow an earned run for the win.”I think we were a little jittery,” Finocchio said. “We made some errors, but we did a nice job pulling it together.”Finocchio said the Bulldogs put a lot of pressure on Saugus, loading the bases with no outs at one point, but her team got out of the jam without allowing a run. Elizabeth Shaw had a solo home run after striking out twice and Lauren Garchinsky had three singles and an RBI. Cassie Labella also had a crucial bunt and freshman Jackie Doherty supplied some aggressive baserunning as a pinch runner.Tiffany Drown made her first varsity start for the Bulldogs (0-1). She struck out six and walked two. Jen Mageary, a junior transfer from St. Mary’s, had a big day, going 4-for-4 and scoring a run. The Bulldogs also had RBI from Valerie Fiaccaprili, Aleasha Despres (sac fly), Cara Crowley and Jackie Trapula (sac fly).St. Mary’s 6, Masco 1At Masco, Katelynn Fanning (2 hits, 3 walks, 8 strikeouts) looked good in the Spartans’ opener. Masco led 1-0 until the fourth inning, when Anna Jackson (2-for-3) singled to score Fanning and tie the game. St. Mary’s scored four runs in the sixth inning, with Erin McAndrews (2-for-3) getting things going with a ground-rule double. Jackson had another RBI single that inning.Marblehead 6, Manchester-Essex 1At Marblehead, the Magicians (1-0) launched their bid to repeat as Northeastern Conference South champions on a winning note, with Ashley White (3-for-3, 2 RBI, 2 runs scored) supplying the bulk of the offense. Sam Norman (hit, RBI) and Lizzie Whitehill (RBI triple) also contributed with the bats while Courtney Colantuno (5 hits, 5 strikeouts, 1 walk, 1 earned run) worked her magic on the mound.Revere 7, Somerville 4At Somerville, second baseman Paige Licata had a double, single and three RBI to help the Patriots (2-0). Somerville scored all its runs in second inning, but Nicole Perullo came on in relief of starter Lisa Polsonetti and shut the door with a three-hit, two-walk performance. Polsonetti had a single and doubled in the final run and Ashley DeFraia pulled through with a two-run single in the fifth inning.Spellman 14, Fenwick 2At Brockton, the Crusaders (1-1) had a rough outing. Spellman led 4-2 after three innings, but blew things open with a five-run fourth. Alyssa Begin took the loss for the Crusaders. Casey Fitzgerald a hit, a RBI and scored a run in the loss.