Roundup: White delivers for Spartans baseball, 3-1

It’s not often an early-season game is viewed as a must-win. However, in order to avoid falling two games back in the Catholic Central Large race, St. Mary’s had to consider Sunday’s home game against Bishop Fenwick just that.And the Spartans (2-2; 3-3) delivered a 3-1 win as Kurtis White stroked a pair of doubles, scored one run and drove in another and came on to seal the deal with a two-out save in the top of the seventh. Senior Sean Buckland picked up the win, striking out 11 while scattering four hits and yielding a single unearned run in the first inning.”The pitching has been very good. This was a good team win and it started on the mound. Sean was terrific and we played very well behind him,” said St. Mary’s coach Derek Dana.After spotting Fenwick (2-3; 4-3) that first-inning run, the Spartans tied it immediately in the bottom of the first. White led off with a double, advanced on Brendan Mageary’s sacrifice bunt and scored on Cam O’Neill’s fielder’s choice.St. Mary’s took control in the bottom of the fifth. Pinch-hitter Devin Thompson stroked a lead-off single, moved up on a sacrifice bunt and scored the game-winning run on Jonathan Capano’s single to left. White then doubled home Capano with an insurance tally.The Crusaders had a runner on second with one out in the top of the seventh but White shut them down.M’head 7, Everett 0At Marblehead, sophomore right-hander Brian Daley got the win for the Magicians with a 5-inning, 3-hit, 4-strikeout effort. Marblehead put together a 5-run third, including a 3-run triple from senior Will Quigley. The Magicians scored single runs in each of the final two innings. No. 2 hitter Casey Stead reached base four times (2 singles, 2 walks) and scored three runs.North Reading 2, Lynnfield 1At North Reading, the Pioneers (2-1, 4-1) had their season-opening four-game winning streak halted by North Reading (3-2, 4-2). The Hornets’ Ryan Warnock (two hits, three strikeouts) and Pioneers’ Dylan Costa (four hits, five strikeouts) locked up in a pitchers’ duel completed in an hour and a half.Lynnfield took a 1-0 lead in the fifth when Chris Lang walked and eventually scored on B.J. Neil’s base hit. North Reading countered with two in the fifth, driven in by Warnock.”It was a great pitching performance by both pitchers and great defense from both teams,” said Lynnfield coach John O’Brien.Swampscott 14, Wayland 3At Wayland, six Big Blue (4-2) players had multi-hit games. Trevor Massey (four hits, three RBI) and A.J. Baker (two hits, three RBI) triggered the assault, aided by three hits from Nick Meninno and two each from Frank Legere, Mike Walsh and Robert Serino.Sean O’Brien (three innings), Massey (two innings) and Evan Rhodes (two innings) combined on a five-hitter, striking out nine. Second baseman Nunzio Morretti turned a pair of double plays in key situations to keep Wayland at bay.Swampscott takes on Marblehead this afternoon at Swampscott (4).SOFTBALLDanvers 5, St. Mary’s 0At Bishop Fenwick, the At Bat for Buddy tournament began on Saturday, in memory of longtime coach Ed Henry, who died two years ago.For the Spartans, Brooke L’Abbe started and went two innings, allowing one run on two hits. She was replaced by Mia Nowicki, who pitched four innings of relief, allowing four runs (3 earned) on eight hits.L’Abbe also went 2-3 at the plate. She left the game after feeling under the weather.”She was sick and was trying to get through it,” Spartans coach Colleen Newbury said. “She was battling ? She seems better today.”St. Mary’s saw rain postpone Sunday’s scheduled game against Fenwick. The squads will play next Sunday at 2 p.m. at Fenwick.GIRLS LACROSSEWilliams 14, St. Mary’s 2At St. Mary’s, the Spartans got goals by Gabby Grugnale and Amanda Donahoe.BOYS LACROSSESwampscott 5, Martha’s Vineyard 4At Martha’s Vineyard, Ed Gambale led the way for the Big Blue with three goals, with Patrick Kennedy chipping in with the other two. Max Cohen had 12 saves for Swampscott.In other games, St. John’s P