LYNN — The No. 2 St. Mary’s softball team grabbed its second tournament win in as many days Wednesday, taking down No. 3 Boston Latin Academy 8-2 in the Division 3 North semifinals at home.
Despite what the final score might say, this one was closer at times than it looked. Boston Latin had two bases-loaded scenarios in the fourth and sixth innings, but pitcher Lily Newhall and the Spartans defense limited the damage to just one run.
“We showed some resiliency,” St. Mary’s Coach Frank Pagliuca said. “Lily buckled down. Lead-off walks were something we had to rectify but she did a good job. She battled.”
Newhall finished her complete game allowing one earned run on five hits and five walks with eight strikeouts.
At the plate Anna Fringuelli stayed hot, going 3-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored. Lead-off hitter Brooke Moloney (2-for-4, walk) also had a great day, scoring three runs with an RBI while Alyssa Grossi (2-for-3, walk) had an RBI and a run.
But despite pushing across eight runs, there was still plenty more left to be desired on both sides of the game as St. Mary’s heads into the Division 3 North final Saturday.
“Offensively we left 13 runners on base,” Pagliuca said. “We had chances to bust it open. (Boston Latin) battled hard. They had bases loaded twice, too. I thought we were sloppy in the field; that’s not going to cut it in the next game. We have to tighten up defensively — four errors, that’s not good. We have to focus on making the plays we should be making and not giving extra opportunities.”
Singles from Moloney, Grossi and Newhall loaded the bases early for Marina DiBiasio, whose sacrifice fly drove in a run to put St. Mary’s up 1-0 early.
Next inning, Fringuelli plated Emely Rodriguez on an RBI single and scored on a double from Moloney. Grossi drove in Moloney with a single next and the Spartans rolled to an early 4-0 lead.
Newhall ran into some trouble in the fourth with a pair of walks and a bunt loading the bases, but she struck out her next three batters to get out of the jam.
Boston Latin grabbed a run back in the fifth, but the Spartans answered with another four runs. Felicia D’Alessandro walked and scored on an error before Jill Kirby’s sacrifice bunt brought home Fringuelli. A few batters later, Grossi drew a walk with Moloney on third base and turned it into a two-run play after breaking for second base and coming all the way around to score on an errant throw to stretch the lead to 8-1.
Boston Latin loaded the bases again in the sixth and this time got a run back on a fielder’s choice before the Spartans closed things down in the seventh to clinch the win.
“Overall we’ll take it,” Pagliuca said. “I’d rather not play the best and win then play your best and lose. I’m proud of them for moving on and buckling down.”
St. Mary’s (20-2) will face its toughest test yet at No. 1 Amesbury (14-0) Saturday (1).
“We’re just happy to make it where we are,” Pagliuca said. “(Amesbury) is good, they have good pitching and they’re a quality team. We’re excited to be in the North final.”
