Swampscott softball breaks through against Saugus American

SWAMPSCOTT – Scoring four runs in the top of the fifth inning, the Swampscott softball team defeated Saugus American, 5-1, in Little League District 16 action at the Forest Avenue Fields on Tuesday.”Our goal is to be aggressive on the basepaths and manufacture runs,” said Swampscott manager John Rizzo, whose team next plays East Lynn/Pine Hill/West Lynn American today (5:30), also at the Forest Avenue Fields.The decisive fifth inning contained enough impressive play on the basepaths to satisfy Maury Wills or Rickey Henderson. With the score tied 1-1, Caitlyn Gorman led off the inning with a walk and stole second, and Emma Faulkner bunted her to third. With Sam Rizzo at the plate, Gorman scored on a passed ball for the go-ahead run.Rizzo subsequently walked and stole second. Danielle Mayblyum singled to put runners at first and third with one out, and as Mayblyum was stealing second with Tessa Beane at bat, Rizzo came home to make it 3-1.”That’s a good team,” said Saugus American manager John Murphy, whose team next plays on Thursday (5:30, also at Swampscott, opponent TBA). “I’m sure they’ll go far.”Saugus American pitcher Nina Murray struck out Beane for the second out, with Mayblyum taking third on the play. Murray hit the next batter, Victoria Himarus, and with Emily Fiore up to bat, Swampscott kept running on the basepaths, as Himarus stole second to put runners at second and third. Then, Mayblyum was safe at home after Saugus American catcher Tayla Giuffrida wasn’t able to hold onto the ball. This made it 4-1, Swampscott. Himarus maintained pressure on the basepaths by taking third.Fiore walked, and stole second with Julia Potter batting. Himarus scored the fourth Swampscott run of the inning on a wild pitch, with Fiore taking third. Potter walked, putting runners at first and third, but Murray threw out Nora Walker on a bunt play to end the inning.Outside of the big inning, this game proved a pitcher’s duel. Swampscott starter Rizzo had 11 strikeouts; Murray had nine. Swampscott managed two hits all game – a double by Rizzo and a single from Mayblyum. Saugus American got three singles, one each from Alexis Mango, Murray, and Jaime Ross.”The other pitcher, Murray, did a great job pitching,” Rizzo said. “We capitalized on aggressive baserunning, in a nutshell.”The teams traded runs in the first inning, with Swampscott taking a 1-0 lead when Rizzo scored on an error, three batters after Faulkner had gotten thrown out at the plate trying to score on Rizzo’s double. Saugus American tied it when Gianna Pizzano scored on a passed ball in the bottom of the frame.”Sammy did a great job,” Rizzo said. “She settled down after giving up one run in the first inning.”