Revere’s comeback falls short against Westford

REVERE – The No. 6 Patriots mounted a seventh-inning comeback, but were defeated in extra innings, 4-2, by No. 19 Westford Academy in the quarterfinals at St. Mary?s Field on Tuesday.
Down 1-0 from the top of the first inning until the seventh, the defending Division 1 North champion Patriots (16-6) rallied with two outs in the seventh. Junior Cheyenne Fullen got things started with a single and pinch hitter Gia Santienello kept Revere alive, reaching on an error. That brought up leadoff hitter and senior captain Victoria Russo, who hit the ball hard in her previous three at-bats but had yet to find a hole. Russo, down to her last strike, shot one past the third baseman?s reach down the foul line, scoring the tying run and giving the Patriots a new life.
Unfortunately for Revere, the score did not stay tied for long. The first two hitters in the top of the eighth reached base and Westford?s Caroline Baggeroer blasted a shot over the fence in dead center, giving the Grey Ghosts a 4-1 lead.
Revere tried to rally one more time, as Alina Giuliano drove in a run with two outs after singles from Juliana Cecere and Victoria Correia. The Patriots had two runners on, but couldn?t complete their second comeback of the day.
?(Westford is) one of the toughest teams I?ve ever been around,” said Revere coach Joe Ciccarello. “They?re hot right now. They have a really good pitcher. They?ve been playing good (defense). We had plenty of chances and put the ball in play, but they made the plays. That?s what this level?s all about. But we kept fighting right until the very end. We were a hit away from tying this game.”
Perhaps the hardest part of the loss is the fact that Ciccarello now has to say goodbye to three seniors who have been an integral part of his team for the past few seasons.
?It?s a great senior class. They?ve been my leaders. They?ve been my everything,” said Ciccarello. “It?s going to be sad to see them leave because they?ve done so much for this program.”
The first of those seniors is pitcher Sabrina Palermo, who finishes her high school career just four strikeouts shy of 700, with eight against Westford.
?She put the program on the map,” Ciccarello said. “The sport starts on the mound, and there?s been nobody better.”
Also graduating is Russo, the second baseman and the team?s leadoff hitter, as well as Kristina Stella, who has been a force in the heart of Revere?s lineup.
Not getting another shot at a division title is a tough pill to swallow for the Patriots, who generated some magic in 2014 as they made an improbable run to the state semifinals.
?That?s how it is, though,” Ciccarello said. “It?s a round bat, a round ball, and it does funny things. Sometimes you win them, sometimes you lose them. It hurts when you lose them, but this group, I know they wanted nothing more than a shot at (the semifinals), and it?s painful not to get there.”Katie Morrison may be reached at [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter @KatieMo61.