MARBLEHEAD — After becoming the first team in town history to win a Little League softball state championship over the weekend, the Marblehead softball team is set to continue its quest for the Little League World Series this weekend when it plays in the East Regional tournament in Bristol, Conn.
After a first-round bye on Saturday, Marblehead will open the tournament against the winner of New York vs. Vermont Sunday morning at 10 a.m. The game will be streamed live on ESPN+.
Marblehead, which has now become “Team Massachusetts” following its state title victory, is made up of Tessa Francis, Tessa Andriano, Kate Andriano, Lily Norton, Greta Sachs, Hailey Schmitt, Lillian Reddy, Meggie Grenier, Lucy Rogers, Nora Mahan, Chloe Mahoney, Sophie Milner and Keliane Salem. Chris Francis and Anthony Andriano both serve as coaches, while Jody Norton is the team’s manager.
Marblehead will set up camp down in Bristol for the duration of the double-elimination tournament, living on a complex with the other nine regional qualifiers — Milford Little League (Connecticut), Lower Sussex Little League (Delaware), Windham Little League (Maine), Delmar Little League (Maryland), Robbinsville Little League (New Jersey), South Orangetown Little League (New York), Mifflinburg Little League (Pennsylvania), Warwick North Little League (Rhode Island) and Connecticut Valley North Little League (Vermont).
Marblehead won eight games to put itself in the East Regional, starting with a District 16 title. After dropping the tournament opener to Peabody and falling into the loser’s bracket, Marblehead rattled off four straight wins and eventually took down Salem to punch a ticket to the Section 4 Tournament.
“This team really never quits,” said coach Anthony Andriano. “The girls pick each other up and always keep their focus. It’s really been all 13 of them contributing for us in every game.”
The sectional tournament saw Marblehead play four more games, going up against Agawam Little League, East Bridgewater Little League, Woburn Little League and Jack Barry Little League (Worcester). It only took three games for Marblehead to move on, as the team went 3-0 with wins over Agawam, Woburn and Jack Barry to earn a spot in the state championship game.
Marblehead’s opponent in the state title game was East Bridgewater, and it wasn’t close. Marblehead took home a 12-2 win behind strong pitching from Francis and timely hitting up and down the lineup.
The state title win catapulted Marblehead to the East Regional, which will run from July 24-29. If the team makes it out of the regional, Marblehead will represent New England at the Little League Softball World Series in Greenville, N.C. from Aug. 11-18.
“They are a scrappy, tough but also a kind and fun group of young ladies that have really come into their own,” said Anthony Andriano. “We are all proud of how hard they have worked and are excited for what lies ahead.”
