ITEM PHOTO BY KATIE MORRISON
Abby Bettencourt struck out eight in the Peabody win.
By KATIE MORRISON
PEABODY — The Peabody 12-year-old All-Stars started the 2016 District 16 All-Star softball tournament with a bang Monday, slugging its way past the Salem All-Stars, 18-2, at the Kiley Bros. School Field in Peabody.
The Peabody team boasts a roster featuring nine players who were on the state champion 9/10-year-old team last season. The nine players and three coaches (Mark Bettencourt, Keith Bloom and Jeff Roach) all moved up to the next level to make their mark in the 12-year-old tourney. It might be an uphill battle for the Peabody squad in this tournament, however. They’re on the younger side, with just two 12-year-olds. The majority of the team is comprised by 11-year-olds, and two 10-year-olds.
One of those 10-year-olds is Abby Bettencourt, the team’s ace in the circle. Bettencourt looked sharp Monday, fanning eight Salem batters in her first start of the tournament.
Offensively, she set the tone early on. Bettencourt, the leadoff hitter, drew a walk and stole second. Emma Bloom stepped up next and started the Peabody hit parade.
Peabody sent 20 batters to the plate in the first inning, scoring 14 times. Isabel Bettencourt drove in three runs in the inning on a double and single. Sarah Broughton had two hits and a RBI, and Hayley Roach singled and scored two runs.
Salem starter Julia Pallazola struggled against the Peabody lineup and was relieved by Alyza Cyr, who got Salem out of the inning. But the damage was too much for Salem to overcome.
Salem got its first run in the second, with Jaiden Gutierrez drawing a two-out walk. She advanced to second on Cyr’s walk, stole third, and came home as the throw bounced into left field.
Peabody has the bases loaded in the second with nobody out. Isabel Bettencourt and Broughton drew walks, and Roach reached on a fielder’s choice. Cyr worked her way out of the jam, though, getting a strikeout and making a nice catch on a sinking liner. Maisie Dunn grounded out to third to end the inning.
The Peabody offense came alive again in the third, however. Bloom singled with two outs and a walk and error loaded the bases for Gina Terrazzano, who drove in two runs with a single. Danielle Mulready plated two more runs with a single.
Salem scored once more in the fourth, as Pallazola tripled to lead off the inning. Cassidy O’Leary drove her in on a single, but Abbey Bettencourt got a strikeout and groundout to end the game.
“I think in the first inning, we showed everything we can do,” said Mark Bettencourt. “We took advantage of opportunities at the plate, made the plays defensively, and Abby threw strikes.”
While it seems like there may not be a weak link in the Peabody lineup, Bettencourt knows that there’s still progress to be made.
“We still have a lot of work to do,” he said. “We have some weak spots, and we’re playing against very competitive teams.”
Peabody advances to play Wyoma Wednesday at 5:45 in Lynn. Salem will take on the loser of Wednesday’s Marblehead-Saugus matchup Thursday in the loser’s bracket.
