The Classical High softball team saw its 41-game Northeastern Conference winning streak come to an end Wednesday in a 13-5 loss to Peabody at Peabody.
The Tanners brought the bats to this one, hitting four home runs to rally from a 4-0 deficit in the first inning. Catcher Olivia Brothers had the Rams’ number with two two-run blasts and six RBI.
“We’ve never hit four home runs in a game,” Peabody coach Butch Melanaphy said. “We don’t hit four home runs in a year.”
Classical coach Chris Warren said things were looking good after a four-run first inning, but the Tanners answered with an eight-run third.
“They’re a big, strong team,” Warren said. “They’re one of the better hitting teams in the league.”
The Rams’ NEC winning streak spanned four seasons. Heading into this season, it was at 38 and with wins over Salem, Revere and Beverly to start the season, it had grown to 41.
“It was exciting, but it had to end at some point,” Warren said. “We lost the streak to a good, strong team. That sort of makes it a little easier to swallow.”
On a positive note, Classical shortstop Franki Galeazzi went 4-for-4, Bobbie Dee Regan went 2-for-3 and freshman Ally Dunnigan, who came on in relief of starting pitcher Ivy Martin in the third inning, went 2-for-3.
Peabody pitcher Shelbi Wilson struck out three and walked two. Jessica Raymond (2-for-2, double); Alex Romano (2-for-4) and Taylor Dabney (single, 2 RBI) had a big day at the plate.
Beverly 9, English 3
At English, sophomore Emily Pitman threw a four-hitter for the 2-2 Panthers, with eight strikeouts and two walks.
Taytum Geary went 1-for-2, with a run scored and two RBI. Freshman Ally Cabral pinch-hit with a two-run single, and senior captain Natalie Shea was 3-for-4 with an RBI.
Molly Cullen and Brooke Holey pitched for English, with Cullen going for most of it. She had six strikeouts.
Beverly scored four runs in the fourth and two in the fifth.
Sam Holey was 1-for-1 and scored twice, hitting a triple and stealing two bases. Shannon Calnan’s RBI single scored Holey.
Jolene Mastropietro had an RBI single to score McKenzie Shultz.
Swampscott 18, Gloucester 7
At Swampscott, Gloucester took a 2-0 lead in the top of the first, but Swampscott went on to score 10 unanswered runs in the first two innings to pull away from the Fishermen. Swampscott (2-2) pitcher Sam Rizzo settled down after the first inning (4 innings, 2 runs). The Big Blue (18 hits) had plenty of firepower with Tori Thistle (4-5, 4 RBI, 2 doubles, triple); Christina King (3-4, 5 RBI, 2 doubles, triple); Emma Faulkner (3-5, 2 doubles, 2 RBI) and Emma Walsh (3-5).
Amesbury 9, Lynnfield 5
At Amesbury, the Pioneers jumped out to a 5-0 lead after four innings on a two-run triple by Jade Palladino and a two-run home run by Malia Roberto. The fifth run scored on an error. Lynnfield led 5-1 after five, but things unraveled in the sixth when Amesbury took advantage of a couple of hits and errors to score eight runs.
Lynnfield is 3-2 overall, 1-1 in the Cape Ann League.
Revere 11, Salem 2
At Revere, the Patriots (3-2) rode a strong pitching performance by sophomore Sabrina Palermo, who allowed three hits and struck out seven. The runs were unearned. Jackie Noel went 2-for-3 and Noelle MacDonald had an RBI bunt.
Fenwick 18, East Boston 4
At Peabody, the Crusaders (3-for-3) won in five innings. Sophomore designated hitter Brianna Hemeon went 3-for-3 with three runs scored and three RBI); sophomore catcher Gabby Hart (4-for-4, 3 runs, 4 RBI) and junior second baseman Jen Crovo (2-for-3, 3 runs, 2 RBI) also helped out. Natalie Moore got the win. She went four hitless, scoreless innings, walked two and struck out two.
Danvers 11, Saugus 0
At Danvers, Kendall Meehan rode a no-hitter into the sixth inning. She finished with a one-hitter with 10 strikeouts and two walks. The Falcons (4-0) pounded out 17 hits led by Chrissy Gikas (3-for-4, 3 runs, 2 RBI); Caitlin McBride (3-for-4, 3 RBI) and Meehan (3-for-4, 2 RBI). Saugus is 0-4.
Joyce Erekson can be reached at [email protected].
