Roundup: English girls tennis outlasts Salem

The English High girls tennis team broke into the win column Thursday, defeating Salem, 3-2, at Breed.Click here for a photo gallery.The Bulldogs (1-1) swept singles, with Anjeza Beharaj defeating Juliana Carvallo, 6-4, 6-3. Alise Rittershaus defeated Adelaide Majeski, 6-1, 6-0, in the two spot and Thanh Bui, in her first varsity match, defeated Melissa Simons, 6-1, 6-1, at third singles.Salem picked up its wins in doubles with Molly Ryan and Sarah Hernando pulling out a three-setter against Sarah Cowdell and Dina Robles, 3-6, 6-2, 6-4. In second doubles, Michaela Gaffney and Megan Marshall stopped sisters Scarlett and Kelly Santana, 6-0, 7-5.SOFTBALLSt. Mary’s 16, Austin Prep 3At Reading, St. Mary’s Nation is breathing a little easier today after the Spartans, who dropped their last two games, righted the ship with a win over the Cougars.St. Mary’s pounded out 18 hits and pretty much put the game away with a nine-run first inning. Freshman Brook L’Abbe made her first varsity start a memorable one. She went the distance, allowing seven hits, three runs (2 earned) and two walks. She struck out three.”She threw strikes and mixed it up,” St. Mary’s coach Colleen Newbury said. “She did awesome today. She’s really poised as a freshman.”L’Abbe, who also had a pair of hits, had plenty of support from her teammates. Maria Nazzaro went 3-for-5 with four RBI and three runs scored and Erin McAndrews went 3-for-5 with three RBI. Another freshman, Allison Butler, got her first start at second base and was impressive with eight putouts/assists.”We came out like we needed a win. We did need a win,” Newbury said.Shawsheen 7, Tech 4At Tech, the Tigers (0-5) put up a good fight. Shawsheen scored five runs in the first inning and two in the second before the Tech defense clamped down. Pitcher Shanel Bird, who played well defensively, had a two-run single and Breanne Case and Tori Park drove in runs. Alissa Fournier was solid defensively at shortstop. Park made the defensive play of the game when she snagged a line drive and tagged the runner for a double play.BASEBALLNo. Reading 8, Lynnfield 7At Lynnfield, Peter Franchi hit a two-run single in the sixth inning to tie the game at 7-7 and send it into extra innings. After a scoreless seventh and eighth inning. North Reading came up with what would be the game-winner in the ninth. Lynnfield threatened in the seventh inning, getting a runner to second, and again in the eighth (first and third), but both threats fizzled.Joe Satorelli went the first 3 2/3 innings, leaving the game with North Reading leading 6-4. The Hornets made it 7-4 in the fourth. Sophomore Dylan Costa went the final 5-plus innings for Lynnfield and did an excellent job, scattering four hits. Chris Grassi went 3-for-3 for Lynnfield with an RBI and three runs scored.Shawsheen 16, Tech 6At Lynn, the Tigers were winning 5-1 heading into the fourth inning when the wheels came off the wagon. Tech pitching issued 15 walks. The Tigers are 2-4.St. John’s 13, Hopkinton 4St. John’s 19, Hopkinton 0At Hopkinton, the Eagles swept the doubleheader to even their record at 3-3. Tyler Coppola had a monster day, going 6-for-7 with two home runs, a double and eight RBI. Coppola is a lofty 12-for-17 to date with three homers and two doubles.Also swinging the bat well for The Prep were Anthony Capuano, who went 4-for-7 over the two games with four doubles and seven RBI. Kevin Davis (4-for-8, homer, double, 4 RBI) and Justin Peluso (4-for-6, triple) also helped the cause.Josh Baldwin, in his first varsity start, went five innings, allowed a run, struck out six and walked three. Dylan Gonzalez, also in his first varsity start, allowed five hits, fanned four and walked three. He also had six assists.The Prep has a makeup game against Arlington at home Saturday (11).BOYS LACROSSELynnfield 8, Arl. Catholic 6At Belmont Hill, Arlington Catholic was 7-0 heading into the game, but the Pioneers made sure they tarnished the mark a bit. A.J. Roberto and John Tremb