PEABODY — It may be cliché, but it truly was a shame that someone had to lose Monday’s softball game between host Peabody (6-3) and Malden Catholic (6-2).
The Lancers had just two hits entering the seventh inning. Trailing 1-0 on a Lizzy Bettencourt home run in the third, the Lancers’ Chloe O’Neil banged out a leadoff single and got to third on back-to-back groundouts. Down to their last out, the Lancers’ No. 9 hitter, Bella Bennett, was Malden Catholic’s last hope. All she did was smash a home run to left-center to put the Lancers on top, 2-1. After the Tanners went down in order in their half of the inning, the steal was complete.
Despite the loss, Peabody coach Steve Lomasney was happy with the Tanners’ performance.
“That was a very good game,” he said. “They have a good team. I know we’re a good team. Both pitchers were lights out. You had two really good pitchers in the circle, so at the high school and college levels, you know it’s going to come down to one run. They got a lightning-bolt swing out of the No. 9 spot, and sometimes you just have to tip your cap, and that’s what happened today.”
Lancers coach Lenny Parsons said it was a “well-piched” game.
“I give all the credit in the world to the other team’s pitcher as well,” he said. “They had an eighth grader pitching, and we had a freshman. That was one of the best-pitched high school games I’ve seen in a long time. Just a great game.”
Both teams squandered scoring opportunities in the first inning. Peabody starter Olivia Palmieri (7 IP, 2 ER, 4 H, 3 BB, 2 K) issued back-to-back walks with one out, but buckled down to get the next two outs to escape the jam.
Peabody shortstop Taylor King led off the bottom of the inning with an infield hit. Lizzy Bettencourt worked a walk, moving King to second. Both runners were stranded when Parsons retired the next three batters.
After the shaky start, Palmieri found her rhythm, retiring 12 of the next 13 batters she faced before giving up a one-out single in the sixth inning to Lancers starting pitcher Isabella Parsons. Bennett then reached on an infield error. Peabody got out of that jam on a heads-up double play by second baseman Micayla Creamer. She stabbed a vicious line drive and alertly doubled up Bennett at first to end the inning.
Peabody had a chance to extend its lead in the bottom of the inning when Kaylee DiNicola beat out a one-out infield single but was left stranded.
The Lancers’ Chloe Bennett got things started in the seventh with a leadoff single. She advanced to third on a couple of infield groundouts, setting the stage for Bennett’s blast.
“I did expect power from her,” Parsons said. “She’s our No. 5 batter, and we just switched things around to try to get a little more pop in the bottom of the lineup. It paid off for us today.”
Lomasney made no excuses, saying the Lancers just flat-out won this one.
“Overall, it was just a good defensive effort. Everybody played great defensively, and I was proud of our pitching. It was a very well-played game on the part of both teams,” Lomasney said. “We pride ourselves on defense, and you could see the other team does, too. It really comes down to those one or two plays. For us, we didn’t make mistakes to lose the game. I will sleep well at night knowing we did everything we could to win this game, and they just beat us. That’s it.”
The Tanners’ next game is Wednesday against Winthrop (4) at home.
“They had a really good pitcher last year who was a freshman, so I expect she’ll be a lot better this year,” Lomasney said. “We’re just going to attack it the way we attack every game. We play to win, and whatever happens, happens. We’ll have Ayanna Cirame ready to go. It’s our Senior Night, so the seniors will start the game. We’ll be prepared and ready to go.”
Malden Catholic is back in action Friday at Marblehead (4:30).
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
Photo: Spenser Hasak | Purchase this photo
Photo: Spenser Hasak | Purchase this photo
Photo: Spenser Hasak | Purchase this photo
Photo: Spenser Hasak | Purchase this photo
