Softball: Classical outduels Salem to claim a perfect NEC North record

All season long, the Lynn Classical softball team has taken the best shots that teams in the Northeastern Conference had to offer. And every time, the Rams have risen up and passed those tests.On Thursday at Grace Rogato Field, the Rams completed a perfect season in the NEC as Olivia DeJoie’s 2-run single in the bottom of the fifth broke a scoreless tie and was all the offense in a 2-0 Classical victory over Salem.Click here for a photo gallery.”That was the best softball game I’ve seen this season,” Classical coach Chris Warren said. “These girls accomplished their goal of being perfect in the NEC and I’m really proud of how they’ve played.”It was a pitchers’ duel in every sense as Salem’s Sarah Chasse and Classical’s Katie Cuozzo went nose-to-nose. Chasse held the Rams without a hit or base runner until their fifth inning rally while Cuozzo, who was pitching on her birthday, took a no-hitter into the seventh inning.”Sarah pitched outstanding and so did Katie,” Warren said. “We had to manufacture some runs and we did.”Mackenzie Coppinger got the Classical rally started when she bunted for a base hit to begin the fifth. Jennie Erekson then reached on an error and Cuozzo walked to load the bases.DeJoie then delivered as she grounded a single up the middle to give the Rams the only runs of the contest.”There is no one else I’d want up there in that situation than Olivia,” Warren said. “She did it in the Danvers game for us and she came through again (Thursday).”Cuozzo nearly got the ultimate of birthday presents, but saw her no-hit bid broken up with two gone in the seventh inning.”They had the target on their backs all season and they had to go out and earn this,” Warren said. “I’ve been around this league for 20 years and going undefeated hasn’t happened often.”Peabody 12, English 9At Keaney Park, the Bulldogs led at one pint during the game, but Peabody rallied for the win. The Tanners’ (4-13) Jess Raymond (2-for-5, 2 RBI, home run); Katie French (2-for-4, 3 RBI) and Ashley Bouchard (3-for-4, RBI) supplied the bats while Shannon Pires (who started), Krista Caproni and Alexa Battersby took care of the pitching.English’s nine runs were the most the Bulldogs have scored in a game all season. Lindsay Walsh, Lauren Polhmeyer, Taylor Newhall, Keila Lantigua and Taylor Ford all contributed at the plate.English (0-18) will face St. Mary’s in the opening game of the Holland Tournament Saturday (5).Swampscott 3, Everett 0At Swampscott, the Big Blue (7-11) rebounded nicely from a tough loss to Marblehead Wednesday night. Angela Vousboukis kept Everett off-balance all afternoon, allowing only four hits while striking out nine. Everett had its ace, Michelle Zulo, in the circle. She had eight strikeouts.Heather Tevrow was the hero at the plate for the Big Blue, going 3-for-3 and driving in all three Swampscott runs. Two came on a two-run homer in the first inning. She singled in the third run.The win was especially gratifying because when the teams met earlier in the season, Everett won, 16-0.”I’m really proud of the kids after that tough loss (Wednesday) night. We played a complete game. It was one of the best games I’ve been around in a long time,” Swampscott coach Frank Kowalski said.Malden 12, Marblehead 0At Malden, the Magicians could only muster one hit against the Golden Tornadoes and pitcher Kiara Amos and that came from Olivia Vener. Marblehead (12-6) will play Saugus at home Saturday and Revere on Sunday.In other action, Saugus swept a doubleheader against Somerville, winning the first game 8-0, and the second game, 12-0.