Softball: St. Mary’s snaps losing streak

Three-game losing streaks aren’t a regular thing with the St. Mary’s High softball team, so coach Colleen Newbury was more than ready to get the Spartans back on course when they hit the road for Natick on Tuesday.The comeback tour, however, looked like it might be in jeopardy when the Spartans found themselves trailing 6-2 heading into the sixth inning, but the bats woke up with a vengeance and nine runs later, St. Mary’s (11-5) was on target for an 11-8 win.Erin McAndrews started the ball rolling with a lead-off single, Kristen Mondello walked and Katie Collins (4-for-4, RBI) doubled to drive in McAndrews. Luck smiled on the Spartans when, with one out and runners on second and third, Gabby Cohan hit a softball ground ball to third. The third baseman did a pump fake to first and then tried to get the runner at third, but threw the ball away, bringing in two runs. Vanessa LaFauci singled in the tying run and the Spartans were off to the races.”Offensively we had a good performance. Defensively, we can work on a few things,” Newbury said.Vanessa LaFauci went six innings for the win. Brianna Holmes went 2-for-4 and Ariel LaRosa, 3-for-4 with three RBI. St. Mary’s will be at Cardinal Spellman tonight to battle for a share of the Catholic Central League title.Fenwick 3, Shawsheen 2At Peabody, all of the Crusaders’ runs came on a single by Sam Bouchard. The hit scored Taylor Ahearn from second base. However, the catcher tried to catch Raquel Rojko going to third base and the ball sailed well over the third baseman’s head. The error allowed both Rojko and Bouchard to score.Alyssa Begin (4 hits, 5 strikeouts) pitched a great game to better her record to 3-7. Fenwick’s (6-10) tournament aspirations stayed alive with the win, but the Crusaders have to win their final four games.Danvers 7, English 0At Keaney Park, the game was up for grabs the first three innings, but Danvers (15-0) blew things open with four runs in the fourth. Joanna Zecha (4-for-4, 2 runs, RBI); Gabby Vega (2-for-4, 2-run homer, 4 RBI); Diana Bean (3-for-4, run) led the attack. Bean also picked up the win (5 hits, no walks, 6 strikeouts).Cara Crowley (2-for-3) had the hot bat for English (7-7). Tiffany Drown allowed nine hits, walked two and struck out three.North Shore 16, Tech 2North Shore 19, Tech 4At Middleton, Alyssa Fournier played well at shortstop for the Tigers. Octavia Harper had two hits, scored two runs and drove in two. Shanel Bird had a double and she pitched in both games.