PEABODY — Long ball, small ball, and some fantastic fielding on the part of both teams made for a thriller of a cross-city softball game between Peabody and Bishop Fenwick Saturday morning at The Kiley School.
Four Tanners slugged solo home runs, helping Peabody (4-3) build a 7-4 lead going into the top of the seventh inning. The Crusaders (2-4) rallied with two runs to close the gap to 7-6 and had the tying run on second base with two outs, but Tanner reliever Kaedynce Kauth slammed the door, striking out the final Fenwick batter to preserve the win.
“It was a really good game by both sides,” said Peabody Coach Steve Lomasney. “It was a little scrappy on both ends and Fenwick did the things at the end to give themselves a chance to win the game. We made a couple of mistakes that put them in a situation where they could tie it up or even go ahead with a runner at first base, but we buckled down and made some plays and Kaedynce came in and pitched big.”
“We battled all game, both defensively and offensively,” said Fenwick Coach Brian Seabury. “I like our style right now. We left that game a better team today.”
Peabody jumped out to a 2-0 lead after one – the big hits a leadoff home run by Taylor King (3-for-4, 2 R, RBI) and a sacrifice fly to center by Jessica Steed (1-for-3, 2 RBI) to bring home Lizzie Bettencourt (1-for-3, R, 2 RBI).
The Crusaders cut the deficit to 2-1 in the top of third. With one out, Lola Amandolare walked, got to second on a wild pitch, and scored on Natasha O’Brien’s (1-for-4, RBI) two-out single.
Peabody didn’t wait long to answer. Kaylee DiNicola (3-for-4, R, 2 RBI) blasted a leadoff homer to make it a 3-1 game.
The fifth inning was chock full of action – and runs.
Fenwick’s Sophia Poto (2-for-3, R) led off with a single, stole second, advanced to third on an infield ground out, and scored on a wild pitch. Elizabeth Dumas, Val Tate (1-for-3, R), and Katie O’Brien (1-for-2, R) walked, loading the bases for Lulu Dias (1-for-3, 2 RBI), who ripped a two-run single to put the Crusaders on top, 4-3. The damage could have been worse but for a shoestring catch by Gabby Gosselin in left to rob Gabby Maiuri (1-for-3, R, RBI).
Once again, Peabody wasted no time responding with Bettencourt and Olivia Guarino (3-for-4, RBI, R) leading off the bottom half of the inning with back-to-back homers to regain the lead at 5-4.
Peabody added two runs in the sixth – this time, small-ball style. Gabby Gosselin (2-for-3, R) led off with a bunt single. King singled her to second, then DiNicola legged out a bunt to load the bases. Bettencourt’s grounder to third brought Gosselin home to make it 6-4. Next up was Guarino, who was robbed of extra bases by Fenwick left fielder Katie O’Brien. One batter later, Steed (1-for-3, 2 RBI) delivered a clutch two-out single to make it 7-4 going into the top of the seventh.
“Bunting in that inning was huge and we got them down,” Lomasney said. “These girls can run, but they’ve never had to bunt. But now, at this level, they’ve got some growing to do, but they have tremendous speed, so we have been working on bunting and that work showed today. Those two bunts – they had no chance to make a play. That was really, really good bunting.”
With Tate on second and Katie O’Brien on first, Peabody turned a double play. This time, it was Maiuri’s turn to shine, ripping a single that got past Peabody’s center fielder, allowing O’Brien to score with Maiuri advancing to second. Sara Shann (2-for-4, RBI) brought Maiuri home with a single to pull the Crusaders to within one at 7-6. Poto drilled a single to put the tying run on second base, but Kauth struck out the final batter to end the Crusaders’ rally.
Viv Fortin (6 ER, 14 H, 2 K, BB) went the distance for Fenwick. Ayanna Cirame (5.2 IP, 4 R, 3 H, 2 K, 5 BB) started for Peabody with Kauth (1.1 IP, 2 R, 6 H, 2 K) picking up the win in relief.
Lomasney said he is happy with what he sees in the circle.
“They’ve been playing off each other really well,” he said. “Ayanna was rolling for a little bit there and I could see she was starting to get a little bit tired. The ball was dying when it got to the plate, so we went to KK, who brought a little more velocity than Ayanna has anyway, but that speed difference changed things up a little. It’s going to be their season for us this year.”
Both coaches applauded Saturday’s defensive play.
“Both freshmen shortstops (Fenwick’s Poto and Peabody’s King) made some big plays,” Lomasney said. “I mean, that second one was definitely a hit and [Poto] dives and makes that play with runners at second and third, but that’s what shortstops are supposed to do.
“There were some big catches for us, too. The one in the gap that Jess Steed caught and the line drive at Gabby’s shoelaces that she caught – those were great catches.”
“Sophia and Natasha made some great plays in the field today,” Seabury said. “Their defense was also very good. That double play in particular obviously hurt our comeback.”
Seabury also credited the offense and Fortin’s effort in the circle.
“Poto and Shann swung the bats great today,” he said. “Val pitched well with minimal walks and kept them off balance.”
Peabody’s next game is Monday at home against Gloucester with first pitch slated for 10 a.m.
“That’s a good team, so that will be a big game for us,” Lomasney said.
Fenwick has a break before the Crusaders are back in action Monday, April 28 against Arlington Catholic at 4 p.m.
