Saugus softball sent packing by brutally-efficient Danvers

DANVERS – Perhaps the best phrase to describe the Danvers softball team’s performance in the Division 2 North first round on Friday is brutally efficient.The Falcons did almost everything to perfection at Great Oak Park against Northeastern Conference rival Saugus in the team’s third meeting of the season. Danvers played near flawlessly behind pitcher Taylor Marie Dullea while scoring four times in both the third and fifth innings en route to an 8-0 win, their third over the Sachems this season.”We’ve come in to this tournament focusing more on us instead of who were playing,” Danvers coach Tara Petrocelli said. “It was a great win for us. Saugus is a good team and Bobbie (Finocchio) has done a great job with them this season.”Danvers (17-4) had all but one starter pick up at least a hit on Friday while five different players drove home runs. But the Falcons were even more impressive with their defense.The Sachems (12-9) actually turned two double plays in the game, but Danvers was able to snuff out three separate Saugus rallies with defensive gems – none more impressive than shortstop Joanna Zecha throwing out speed demon Gina Vozella at the plate in the fourth when the game was still in doubt.”We did a lot of good things and I don’t think we played badly,” Finocchio said. “Danvers just made some great plays. I mean who would believe that they’d throw back to the plate on a double steal and get our fastest runner.”Dullea showed a bit of state tournament nerves in the opening inning as she walked Steph Terrezano and plunked Jackie Doherty with one out, but the junior settled down and got the next two hitters to get the Falcons out of harm’s way.”Taylor has been getting better with every game and that’s what we need for her to do to be successful,” Petrocelli said.Neither team would strike in the first two innings before Danvers flashed its defense in the third, throwing out courtesy runner Melissa Toomey to swing the momentum in the Falcons’ favor.Danvers rode that momentum to a big home half of the third.Hannah Demirdogen started the inning with a hit to left. One batter later, Zecha (2-4, 2 RS) followed with a hit. Gabby Vega’s single loaded the bases with still just one out.Logan Carobello’s base hit scored Demirdogen with the game’s first run. Alicia Dean’s sacrifice fly scored another run before Sam DiBella’s two-run single upped the lead to 4-0 after three.”It was nice to see us able to string some hits together,” Petrocelli said.The Sachems immediately threatened in the top of the fourth as Gina Reppucci singled and went to third when Amanda Dicenzo’s bunt was misplayed. Danvers stole the momentum right back as Vega fired to the plate to gun down Vozella on the back end of a double steal.”She’s just like a vacuum there,” Finocchio said of Vega. “She made some great plays.”Danvers put the game out of the reach in the fifth, scoring four more times on four hits and an error.Zecha led off with an infield single and went to third when Vega’s bunt was misplayed. Carobello upped the lead to 5-0 with a sacrifice fly before Dean doubled to center, scoring Vega to make it 6-0.DiBella then missed a homer by inches, ringing a double off the top of the fence in center to score Dean. Caitlyn Ward’s sac fly capped the inning, scoring courtesy runner Julia Saggese.”They were able to put a lot of balls in to spots we couldn’t get to,” Finocchio said.Vega turned an unassisted double play in the sixth to diffuse another Saugus rally before Dullea worked a perfect seventh to end things.