Classical softball off and running

PEABODY – The Lynn Classical softball team sent an early message, loud and clear, to the Northeastern Conference after a 16-4 victory over Peabody on Wednesday afternoon at Kiley School.The five-inning affair was the first of the 2014 campaign for both squads.The Rams shone in all aspects of the game, banging out 16 hits while committing just one error behind starting pitcher Ivy Martin, who was strong before and after a three-run Tanners third.Eight of the visitors? starting nine recorded at least one hit and scored one run, including Jen Ierardi and Gabbie Kenniston, who had three hits apiece. Shannon Magner came across four times while Martin drove in three runs.?We put in a lot of work this offseason and I thought it showed today,” said Classical coach Chris Warren. “Ivy pitched well and seeing that kind of offensive production this early is very promising.”Solo runs in the first and third sandwiched a monster second inning that saw the Rams open up a 6-0 lead on Peabody starter Shelbi Wilson.After Ierardi singled and later scored on a passed ball in the Rams? first chances, the left fielder knocked in Katherine Perez and Franki Galeazzi (1 for 4) in the following frame just before Martin ripped a two-run shot to dead center.Magner led off the game-changing second with an infield single before scoring on a passed ball two batters later. The third baseman would come across again in the third after some sloppy play from the Tanners, who botched two plays in the inning.?We?re a young and inexperienced team, and we knew it would be tough in the early going,” explained Peabody coach Butch Melanaphy. “We made five errors, which killed us, but hopefully it was just first-game nerves.”The hosts found a pulse in the bottom of the third, getting to Martin for three hits, including run-scoring singles from Kayla Santos and Wilson. Nicole Grafton scored prior to the knocks on a successful double steal.Classical would get those runs right back (and then some) over the next two innings, which featured nine runs on eight hits.In the fourth, Kenniston (single) and Jillian Strileckis (double) scored on Ally Dunnigan?s two-bagger before an error in center allowed the latter to score. Krista Cuozzo (1 for 2) plated Magner on an ensuing squeeze play.Ierardi doubled to lead off the clinching fifth before Martin brought her around on a single through the 5-6 hole. Strileckis plated both Martin and Kenniston on a base hit to left-center.The relentless Rams kept on the pressure, getting RBI singles from Magner and pinch-hitter Jessica DeJoie.Martin was hit with an unearned run before closing things out. The junior right-hander allowed just four hits while striking out three.?She?s coming off a great sophomore season and picked up where she left off today,” said Warren of his ace. “She labored a bit in the end but was able to fight through it and finish strong.”