The Peabody Tanners Little League Softball Junior and Major League All-Star teams took another step toward state championships last week, winning their respective District 16 titles in dominant fashion.
After cruising through the six-team District 16 bracket without a loss to successfully defend its 2018 title, the 12-year old major team followed up with an 11-0 road win in the first round of the Section 2 tournament at District 7 champion East Bridgewater Sunday night.
The Tanners are back in action in pool play against District 13 champion Woburn Tuesday at home (5:30).
The Junior All-Stars were also undefeated en route to their district championship.They defeated Wyoma 14-2 June 26 at Lt. Ross Park to complete a two-game sweep and punch their ticket to the Section 2 tournament. The Tanners will open the sectional tournament against District 13 champion Wakefield Monday, July 1 at Lt. Ross Park at 5:30.
Major Softball Section 2 tournament
Peabody 11, East Bridgewater 0
Starter Avery Greico pitched a 2-hitter. She struck out 10 and walked three and also helped herself at the plate going 2-for-4 with three runs scored and two RBI. Lizzie Bettencourt (2-for-4, double) had four RBI, while Logan Lomasney (2-for-4, 3 runs, RBI) smacked two doubles. Kiely Doolin (2-for-4, double, RBI, 2 runs) and Alanna Sweeney (2-for-2, run) also had big days at the plate.
“The girls are playing very well right now and today Avery was just phenomenal,” said manager Mark Bettencourt.
Peabody, which has outscored its opponents in four tournament games 48-3, is back in action Tuesday against District 13 champion Woburn at Lt. Ross Park at 5:30.
Peabody 11, Saugus 0
The Tanners jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the first inning and never looked back. The offense was on fire as the Tanners pounded out 13 base hits, seven of them for extra bases. Doolin had a big day at the plate, going 3-for-4 with a double, triple, two runs scored and a stolen base. Right fielder Christina Izaguirre was 2-for-2 with two doubles, while pinch hitter/right fielder Irene Caron also had a double. Shortstop Logan Lomasney (1-for-4, run) and Greico (1-for-3, 2 runs, 2 stolen bases) also tripled. Bettencourt (run, stolen base), first baseman Sophia Coburn, left fielder Adrianna Lassos, second baseman Alana Sweeney and Jessica Steed also had base hits.
Greico got the start in the circle and twirled a two-hitter. She struck out eight and walked two.
Junior Softball District 16 tournament
Peabody 14, Wyoma 2
The Tanners led 2-0 after one on back-to-back RBI singles from Gina Terrazzano (2-for-5, 2 RBI, run) and Danielle Muready. Wyoma sliced the deficit in half in the bottom of the second when Mikayla Walker tripled and scored on an infield ground out.
Peabody manufactured three runs without benefit of a base hit in the top of the third to stretch the lead to 5-1. The Tanners put the game out of reach with a four-run fourth, the big hits being an RBI double by Haily Roach (1-for-3, 2 runs, 2 RBI), an RBI single by Emma Bloom (2-for-2, 3 runs, RBI) and a big 2-run triple by Isabel Bettencourt (2-for-4, run, RBI). Bloom doubled home a pair of runs in the seventh, while Bloom scored the Tanners’ final run on a single by Bettencourt. Abby Bettencourt stole four bases and scored two runs, while Michaela Alpernen worked four walks and scored two runs.
Bettencourt went the distance in the circle. She allowed one earned run on two hits with nine strikeouts and one walk.
Peabody 4, Wyoma 0
At Wyoma June 24, the Tanners opened the tournament with a win behind the arm of Abby Bettencourt and the big bat of older sister Isabel. The former twirled a one-hitter with 11 strikeouts and just one walk.The latter was 1-for-3 with three RBI. Terrazzano also had an RBI single.
