Revere softball defeats Central Catholic

LOWELL – It took eight superb innings from an under-the-weather Sabrina Palermo and a walk-off single from Victoria Russo, but the Revere softball team will play for its first Division 1 North title in program history, following a 1-0 victory over Central Catholic on Friday afternoon at Martin Field.The No. 10 Patriots, who reached the semifinals once before in 1997, will take on the winner of the day?s second game between Framingham and Newton North on Sunday (5:45).?I?m so proud of my girls, they have come a very long way,” said coach Joe Ciccarello. “Our fans were wearing shirts that read ?It?s Our Time? and ?Believe.? That?s been our mentality all year long.”Ciccarello was quick to point out that both he and his team were the beneficiaries of a strong supporting cast that has helped make this ride possible.?I?m just some hockey schmo who got asked to coach a softball team,” Ciccarello said. “I surrounded myself with a great staff and the kids bought into our system and here we are. It?s been a total team effort.”After consecutive outs to begin the bottom of the eighth inning, Juliana Cecere (2 for 4) laced a triple to deep right before Kristina Stella drew a free pass from Meg Hanley.Trailing 0-1 in the count, Russo flared the winning hit over first baseman Bella Jankowski?s head, just inside the right field line, before being mobbed by her teammates.?Victoria is one of our fastest players and we ask her to bunt a lot,” explained Ciccarello of Russo, who had laid down sacrifice bunts twice already in the game. “She asked us to let her hit and she went up and delivered. That kind of confidence is what you need in a player.”Had it not been for the efforts of Palermo in the circle, the game?s climax might have favored the No. 11 Raiders. Revere?s ace allowed just five hits, struck out 10 and stranded eight baserunners (6 in scoring position), all while battling through the effects of strep throat and an unspecified infection.?For her to do what she did today is absolutely incredible,” lauded Ciccarello. “She?s been on medication for the past few days and unable to eat, so for her to give us that kind of performance is beyond inspiring.”Central Catholic impressed in the circle as well, getting two innings out of Olivia Antczak before Hanley took over for six innings of four-hit ball, with two of those hits coming in the final frame.?They were awesome as well,” praised Ciccarello. “All year, Central has been alternating pitchers, but usually it?s around the fourth inning or so. I think we got to their starter a bit so their coaches decided to throw a new look at us and it worked well.”Antczak escaped a bases loaded jam in the first after sandwiching a self-inflicted error between a Cecere single and a walk to Russo. In the fifth, Hanley survived singles from Stephanie Gregorio (2 for 3) and Logan DiCarlo.Speaking of jams, Palermo pulled off ?Houdini? acts in innings two and three, with some extraordinary defensive help in the latter.With two runners in scoring position in the second, Palermo caught Dylan Parsons looking before striking out Olivia Ciccarelli on a 2-2 changeup. Krista Maloney led off the third with a walk before moving to second on a sacrifice bunt by Ally Cavanaugh.After an Antczak lineout, Caroline Leavitt ripped a single through the 5-6 hole to Russo in left; Russo relayed to Stella before the latter?s throw cut down Maloney on a bang-bang play at the plate.?We?ve worked on that exact kind of relay all season long,” said Ciccarello. “That was a huge play in this game and one you?re proud of as a coach.”A sixth-inning double from Leavitt went for naught before Palermo left Jankowski (leadoff single) on third to end the top of the seventh before two strikeouts in the ensuing frame set up the dramatic finish.