LYNN – Before the second of the two John G. Holland Memorial softball tournament games began earlier tonight at Breed, an English player was overheard saying she wanted another shot at Classical.English had just won the first game, 2-0, in nine innings thanks to a triple by Cara Crowley that scored one run; and a sacrifice fly by Lauren Walsh. And the Bulldogs – at least some of them – were hoping to get a little revenge on the Rams, who beat them 7-0 Thursday at Keaney Park.Well, English will get its chance. Classical defeated St. Mary’s in the nightcap, 3-0, with Makenzie Coppinger tripling and scoring the go-ahead run in the sixth inning, and then knocking in the insurance run in the seventh.Junior Tiffany Drown outdualed Swampscott’s Cortney Fletcher in the first game. Both were equally stingy until the top of the ninth, when Jen Mageary singles, Crowley hit her triple, and Walsh knocked her in with the sacrifice fly.Classical’s Jen Garrity got the better of Sam Kiley of St. Mary’s in the nightcap. In addition, Garrity’s grounder to to shortstop was hit slowly enough to allow Coppinger to score from thirdi and break a 1-1 tie.English will try to win its second-ever title in the tournament ? and its first since 1998. Classical has won the title three times, the last time being in 2007.The tournament is named for John G. Holland, a former Lynn Babe Ruth official who helped found the program’s softball program. Hollandn was also a Lynn Youth Soccer official and a member of the Lynn Parks Commission.In a story in Saturday’s paper, and on Itemlive website Friday, The Item erroneously reported that North Reading won last year’s Nipper Clancy Tournament. St. Mary’s is the defending champion. The Item regrets the error.
