School Roundup: St. Mary’s softball breaks losing streak at Spellman

The St. Mary’s High softball team boards a bus for Brockton every spring to take on Catholic Central League foe Cardinal Spellman, and every year it’s the same old thing.Although the Spartans defeated the Cardinals at home three years ago, the field in Brockton has not been kind to the visitors.”The last time we won down here was eight years ago,” coach Colleen Newbury said.That all changed Monday night, when the Spartans snapped the losing streak with a 4-0 win.”This was a huge game for us,” Newbury said. “Cardinal Spellman wins the league every year.”Pitching and defense were the key in this one. Senior Katelynn Fanning spun a beauty, allowing only two hits, striking out seven and walking four in a complete-game shutout. The defense, which has been shaky at times this season, was stellar.St. Mary’s scored two runs in the fourth inning when Christina Burri doubled and Kristen Mondello singled. That set the stage for freshman designated hitter Ariel LaRosa, who rapped a double to centerfield to drive in both runners.St. Mary’s added two more runs in the seventh inning when Emily Olson and Katie Collins both singled, advanced on a passed ball and then scored on a Maria Nazzaro slap to the shortstop. Newbury said Nazzaro beat the throw to first, but when it went off the first baseman’s glove, two runs scored.Newbury was very happy with her team’s defensive effort, with third baseman Jenna Fraher, second baseman Burri and catcher Erin McAndrews playing particularly well. St. Mary’s is 5-1 overall, 3-1 in the Catholic Central League.M’head 5, Winthrop 3At Winthrop, Sam Norman got the job done with the bat and the glove for the Magicians (3-2). Norman went 2-for-4, with one of the hits a leadoff triple in the second, and she made a gem of a catch in the outfield. Laura Kanarski (hit, 2 runs scored) also flashed some leather at first base. Shortstop Kate Fallon helped out with two hits.Marblehead scored two runs in the second, with one coming in on an RBI single by Kanarski and the other on an error. The Magicians added two more in the fourth with catcher Hannah Pelkey singling in a run in her first varsity game. Another run scored on an error. Pelkey picked up another RBI when she drove in Kanarski in the fifth on a fielder’s choice.Winthrop made things interesting with three runs in the seventh inning. Abby Belch had an RBI double and Courtney Finn and Angie Martucci had RBI singles.Peabody 9, Everett 1At Peabody, sophomore Nicole Wilson allowed only three hits and fanned 13 to help the Tanners remain perfect at 5-0 overall, 3-0 in the Northeastern Conference.Wilson had plenty of support at the plate thanks to Michelle Grifoni (3-for-4, 2 doubles, 2 RBI); Tawny Palmieri (2-for-4); and Kenia McKeon (hit, 2 RBI).Austin Prep 2, Fenwick 0At Austin Prep, Courtney Begin only allowed four hits, but the Fenwick bats remained fairly silent. The Crusaders have struggled defensively in the early going this season, committing 31 errors in six games, but that wasn’t the problem in this one. Fenwick only made one error. Begin and freshman catcher Erin Botticelli, just called up from the junior varsity, each had a hit. Fenwick had three in all.BOYS LACROSSEArl. Cath. 8, St. Mary’s 5At Arlington, Joe Twomey had three goals and Shane Swain and Carley Campbell had one each, but the Spartans (2-3) couldn’t recover from a 4-1 halftime deficit.St. John’s 16, Beverly 3At Beverly, the Eagles (6-1) had the offense cranking, led by John Jennings, who had five goals and an assist. Garrett Campbell had four goals and two assists and Mark Scalise of Nahant had two goals and five assists. The Prep also had some production out of Tucker Garfield (3 goals, 2 assists), John Siderwicz (goal, assist) and Taylor Kenny (goal). Tyler Cash (5 saves) held the fort in net.Wakefield 15, Lynn 4At Manning Field, Sean Winchell had two goals and an assist and Kris Murphy and Sean Crowley each netted a goal for Lynn (0-6).Marian 10, Fenwick 1At Framingham, the Crusaders (4-5)