PEABODY — The No. 5 Peabody softball team finally began its postseason mission after being postponed Monday. Well, a day later, the Tanners defended home field with a 9-5 win against No. 28. Milford.
The Tanners got out to an early 3-0 lead in the first inning, featuring RBI from Logan Lomasney, Avery Grieco, and Penny Spack.
The lead didn’t last long, however. Milford rallied back in the second with three runs to tie the game. What normally would be a single turned into an inside-the-park home run for Milford after Peabody recorded multiple errors.
Milford’s three runs forced Peabody coach Tawny Palmieri to swap pitchers, and in came Abby Bettencourt.
It wouldn’t be the only time Palmieri would swap between Grieco and Bettencourt, as both of them shared the game from the mound.
“I thought Avery and Abby played an outstanding game today,” Palmieri said. “Our defense in the second inning didn’t help Avery much. The errors got contagious and we kept throwing the ball around, which we now know not to do.”
On a side note, as long as the pitcher being subbed doesn’t exit the game, she can come back to pitch if needed.
“Avery understood her role, so when she got in trouble, we subbed Abby in and then we could go back,” Palmieri said. “They’re so good at knowing each other’s role, so it meshes well and it works really well.”
Something else that meshes well for the Tanners: their bats. Peabody registered 14 hits in total, including a solo bomb from Elizabeth Bettencourt in the third inning to give the Tanners a 7-3 lead after the third.
“It’s huge to have [home-run hitters] as a coach,” Palmieri said. “That’s what you work for throughout the season to develop those hitters and hope they come around at the right time. That’s what seems to be happening. I’m grateful for them. Hopefully, they’ll continue to work hard.”
And when the Tanners aren’t hitting home runs, they’re making solid contact and putting the ball in play. Per usual, Penny Spack was outstanding at the plate, going 2-for-3 with three RBI.
“Penny has always been a solid hitter over the years,” Palmieri said. “If she stays the way she is right now – with how she’s seeing the ball – she’s going to be a key player for us throughout this playoff run. She made some great catches for us defensively, too.”
The Tanners continued to pile on the runs, scoring in four innings.
“We should have scored in every inning since we left runners on base,” Palmieri said. “It’s very important to keep scoring runs. The fact we didn’t give up after that second inning of throwing the ball around speaks volume of the girls. It shows that they are ready for the postseason.”
Palmieri praised her pitchers postgame.
“I think they both did what they had to do today,” Palmieri said. “Playing back-to-back games is tough for a team. We needed Avery today and she helped us out.”
The Tanners have a quick turnaround, as No. 12 St. Paul Diocesan awaits Wednesday at 5 p.m., meaning Tuesday’s game was the first of a back-to-back.
“People think you don’t get tired because you’re a softball pitcher, but it’s exhausting,” Palmieri said. “To ask a pitcher to go two days in a row – whether it’s Avery or Abby – that’s a lot to put on somebody. That’s the biggest challenge, but I know they’re ready for it.”
