South wins in Agganis softball

Agganis Week got off to a riveting start on Sunday afternoon with the 17th annual All-Star softball game, which saw the South squad hold off the North for a 6-3 victory at Fraser Field.A five-run third inning provided the visitors with enough insurance to outlast the North’s attempt at a rally in the back half of the contest.South manager Joe Ciccarello (Revere) was extremely happy with not only the win, but also the day in its entirety.?As a coach, it?s funny because you try to villainize some of these same girls that were on my side today during the high school season,” laughed Ciccarello, who was a coach in the game for the second consecutive season. “In a game like this, you get to know them and you realize how special they all are. The talent out on the field was excellent and I wish each and every one of these girls the best going forward.”Peabody?s Butch Melanaphy headed the North squad.Winthrop?s Jen Adamson garnered MVP honors for the victors, finishing the game 2 for 2 with a run scored.?I feel very honored to have received this award,” said the Vikings senior. “Our team had great camaraderie and worked really hard out there to get the win. I had a lot of fun.”The Merrimack commit led off the bottom of the first with a triple to deep left field before scoring shortly after on an RBI fielder?s choice from Cassandra DiBella (Revere).Adamson added an infield single late in the aforementioned big third after all the damage was done.Jacklin Murphy (Saugus) began the frame with a single down the third base line before Keirra Sexton (Malden) reached on an error in right field. Lynn Classical?s Jillian Strileckis followed with an RBI single to right.Swampscott?s Tori Thistle continued the momentum with a base knock before Olivia Vener (Marblehead) reached on a fielder?s choice, which resulted in an errant throw and two more runs. Olivia Legendere (Gloucester) tacked on an RBI groundout to make it 6-0.The North would scrape across solo runs in innings four, five and seven.Lynnfield?s Jacqueline Whelan plated Taylor Scafidi (Waltham) with an RBI single to left an inning before Jen Crovo (Fenwick) singled and came around on a series of passed balls.Gabby Muniz led off the seventh with a triple to center before scoring on a groundout from Pingree teammate Haley Sabino.In addition to her offensive contribution, Whelan pitched three innings of impressive and hitless relief to secure the North?s MVP honors.?It was great being nominated just to play in this game but to win this award is a special feeling given all the talent on the field,” said the Endicott College commit. “I pitched like I normally would and it seemed to work.”Christina Chalmers (Pingree) started for the North while Kendall Meehan (Danvers) and Danielle Mayblyum (Swampscott) pitched three innings apiece before Julie Bourgea (Malden) finished up for the South.The North leads the all-time series 12-4-1.