LYNN — Two of the Greater Boston League’s top softball teams faced off at Breed Middle School Friday morning. Revere (7-2) walked away with a 9-6 win against Lynn Classical (4-3).
The Patriots shot out to a fast start, scoring eight runs across the first two innings, which included a six-run first to put the pressure on the hosts. Revere’s Alexa Humphrey hit a two-run triple to make it 5-0 before Gianna Stasinos brought Humphrey home (6-0).
Revere plated two more in the second inning when Frankie Reed (2B) and Alana Greeman (1B) brought in runs (8-0).
“We started off strong. Our bats, kind of, went low and we started to try to go for the fence instead of just basic hits,” said Revere coach Megan O’Donnell.
It wasn’t until the fourth inning when Classical started to get going. But with two outs and the bases loaded, the Rams were called for interference, which ended the inning leaving runners on base.
In the sixth, the Rams received a lead-off triple from Mia Duncan (2-for-3). Brooke Braswell followed with a triple of her own for Classical’s first run (9-1).
“Mia’s been dialed all year. She’s batting over .500 now,” said Classical coach Joe Morin. “She’s a great shortstop and has a lot of range. She makes a lot of plays. She works hard and is only a sophomore, so she’s going to continue to get better.”
Olivia Rodriguez and Emma Chevalier each brought in runs to make it 9-3.
In the bottom of the seventh, Duncan again led off and recorded a double before stealing third. Rodriguez grounded out, but brought home a run (9-4). Aysia Olaes hit an RBI double to center field to make it 9-5 before McKenna Duncan grounded out, bringing home another (9-6).
“We weren’t really ready to play from the start. We struggled throwing strikes. The first ball of the game, we missed a pop-up, then we missed a few balls that we should have made,” Morin said. “I think we’re a much better team than what we showed today. We outscored them 6-1 in the last five innings. I think that’s more of the team we are. It happens. They came out and played well. They came here, threw strikes, and hit the ball well. We tried to come back. We just didn’t have enough time.”
The Rams had their tying run on deck, but Revere’s Addison Ulwick (7 IP, 11 K) delivered a strikeout to put a lid on Classical.
“She’s only a freshman. She throws hard and hits hard,” O’Donnell said. “She’s a huge team player. She wants to be involved in every play. This was her second start. She’s normally in center field for us. I think she has 15 hits already this season. She just works so hard and the team rallies around her — and they love her personality.”
Morin is confident Olaes will bounce back in the circle.
“We still believe in Aysia. She struggled the last two days and that happens. She just had a tough two games,” Morin said. “We have full confidence in her and she’s shown, this year, that she’s a really good pitcher.”
Chevalier pitched 6 2/3 innings, striking out 10.
“She’s been dynamite. She comes in and is throwing the ball hard and throwing a lot of strikes and attacking batters,” Morin said. “We’ve been trying to use her sparingly because she’s had a few injuries over the years, but she wants the ball.”
O’Donnell was happy with win No. 7.
“They are bonded as a team and this is the first time I’ve actually seen a team gel together,” she said. “No one is worried about playing time. They just come together and are one big family.”
Revere visits Malden Monday at 4 p.m. Classical looks to bounce back the same day against archrival Lynn English at 5:30 p.m.
Photo: Spenser Hasak | Purchase this photo
Photo: Spenser Hasak | Purchase this photo
Photo: Spenser Hasak | Purchase this photo
Photo: Spenser Hasak | Purchase this photo
Photo: Spenser Hasak | Purchase this photo
Photo: Spenser Hasak | Purchase this photo
