Rams wrap up second straight NEC softball crown

Chris Warren didn’t doubt the Lynn Classical softball team would bounce back from Friday’s tough loss to Malden, Classical’s first of the season. It’s just that the Rams took a bit longer than their supporters are perhaps accustomed to Saturday morning at Breed’s Grace Rogato Field.Down to its final at-bat, Classical scored twice in the bottom of the seventh to squeeze past determined Winthrop, 4-3, and clinch a share of its second straight Northeastern Conference championship and third in four years. The Rams (13-0 NEC, 15-1 overall) then secured the outright title later Saturday night when they trekked to Revere and pasted the Patriots, 14-0.According to Warren, softball thus became the first girls team in school history to clinch consecutive NEC championships in any sport.In the decisive seventh inning against Winthrop, Danielle Moran led off with a single and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt. Hannah Byrne laced a game-tying single, took second on the throw to the plate and scored the game-winning run when Chelsey Bartlett’s fly ball was dropped.”It was a good rebound for us. Winthrop has beaten us three years in a row, all one-run games. They always get up for us and we expect it from them. (Winthrop coach) Dave Guffy and I are good friends, we work summer camps together that both teams attend and we know each other’s kids,” said Warren.Guffy, upbeat despite the difficult nature of the loss, concurred.”Except for the ending, I thought it was our best game top to bottom that we’ve played this year, all the way around. The kids from both teams know each other and it’s really become a healthy rivalry,” said Guffy, whose 8-10 club is headed for post-season play via the Sullivan Rule.Pitchers Katie Cuozzo of Classical and Alex Ferri of Winthrop kept opposing hitters in check. Cuozzo struck out eight, scattered six hits and didn’t allow an earned run. Ferri had the Rams off balance throughout, striking out 10 while yielding just five hits.”Their pitcher was outstanding – she really kept us quiet,” said Warren.Classical grabbed a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the second when Bartlett walked and scored on a triple by Jennie Erekson, who then crossed on Olivia DeJoie’s single.Winthrop cut the lead to 2-1 in the third on a run-scoring single by Alyssa Moore (2-for-3), then moved in front in the fifth on a two-run single by Andrea Martucci (3-for-4). The Rams, triggered by the senior Byrne, would show their championship mettle.”We’re really excited. It’s our third championship in four years and Hannah has been a big part of this for four years. She’s the first girl to be a part of three championship teams in school history,” Warren noted.Lynn Classical 14, Revere 0The Rams left little to chance Saturday night, scoring early and often against the Patriots. Bartlett (3-for-3) enjoyed a monster game, clubbing two doubles and driving in seven runs. Byrne went 3-for-3 with two RBI and three runs scored; Moran was 3-for-4 with two RBI; and Franki Galeazzi had a pair of hits and scored two runs. Meanwhile, Mackenzie Coppinger struck out six and yielded just three hits for the shutout.Classical kicks off a busy final week of the regular season with the first of six games today against Beverly. Included is a rematch at Malden on Friday (4 p.m.).