BASEBALL
After battling for 12 innings — nearly the equivalent of two high school baseball games — something had to give between NEC rivals Swampscott and Beverly. Zak Levine made sure that the tide broke in favor of his Panthers.
The senior's sacrifice fly scored Sam Cohen — who had led off with a double — to lift Beverly (9-5) to a 2-1 walk-off win.
"What a great, great baseball game," Panthers coach Dave Wilbur said of the battle. "Both teams had many chances to win and in the end we finally got it done."
Swampscott's Peter Kinchley (10 innings, one run allowed) and Beverly's Nick Colanto staged a classic pitcher's duel, with neither hurler willing to give an inch. Matt Lanza's RBI single gave Beverly a short lived 1-0 lead and the Big Blue (4-8) knotted the score soon after.
Jack Leathersich tossed 32/3 scoreless innings in relief and Lanza threw the 12th to record the win. The marathon game helped Beverly rebound from a tough loss to Saugus while the Big Blue couldn't keep their momentum from beating Peabody alive.
"Both teams made a lot of plays and there wasn't a whole lot of hitting. It was a great pitcher's duel," said Wilbur. "I'm really proud of the way the guys bounced back."
Manchester Essex 4, Hamilton 3
Zeke Gillette drove in the winning run for the Hornets, making it 4-1 in the fifth inning for the team's first victory. Mike Cook had an RBI double and had a pair of two-baggers for hard-luck Hamilon (1-9) and John Hession belted a two-run homer for the Generals, his third of the season.
St. John's Prep 3, St. Peter Marian 2
UNH-bound senior Peter Neal stole home in the bottom of the seventh to lift the Eagles (8-6) to a dramatic, crucial victory. The speedy Neal pinch ran for Kyle Pettoruto, who hit a two-out double, and stole third before beating the tag at the plate. He also threw a runner out at the plate from leftfield and made a diving catch to save runs in the top of the seventh.
The Eagles outlasted St. Peter's Marian lefty ace Keith Landers, who is slated to pitch at Louisville next year, thanks in part to an RBI single from Trevor Manzi and Danny Haugh, who scored on a wild pitch. Chris Carmain went the distance on the hill, striking out eight while allowing six hits and two runs, one of which was earned.
Danvers 10, Lynn English 2
Senior right-hander Jeff Eldridge earned his second win of the season, holding Lynn English to six hits, striking out seven and walking two as the Falcons improved to 10-2. The Falcons qualified for the state tourney for the 18th time in 21 years, including 13 years in a row.
Bobby Dean sparked the offense with three hits, including a two-run homer, and four RBIs. Troy Thibodeau had a two-run triple and Matt Pasquariello chipped in a two-run single. The Falcons built an 8-1 lead through four innings. The Falcons host Beverly tomorrow night (7).
Masconomet 19, Amesbury 6
Winning pitcher James Riordan ran his record to 4-0 with a fine five-inning stint on the mound and helped himself offensively with a run scored and three RBIs as Masco (11-2) snapped a modest two-game losing streak. Pat Matvichuk blasted a grand slam in the sixth inning and scored a pair of runs, while Dan Duval was 2-for-3 with a two-run double and also scored once.
North Shore Tech 11, Pope John 1
The Bulldogs (8-5) sent 12 men to the plate and scored eight runs in the first inning en route to a convincing win over the Tigers. Joe D'ambrosio's two-run double sparked the big inning while Cam Fletcher also had an RBI and Shane Bennett was 2 for 2 on the day with two runs scored and a RBI.
David St. Pierre set the tone on the hill, striking out nine over the first five innings to earn the win.
Rockport 15, Ipswich 5
The Tigers didn't help themselves by making eight errors in the field and the Vikings bats did the rest of the damage. Chris Tolios was a bright spot for Ipswich (5-8) with a pair of hits and two RBI while Matt Roberts recorded a pair of hits and drove in a run.
Lynn Classical 5, Marblehead 2
The Rams won for only the third time in 12 games, helped by three Marblehead errors. Andy Glabicky had a run-scoring triple for Marblehead, which fell to 4-8.
SOFTBALL
North Shore Tech 17, Pope John 9
The Bulldogs (12-3) rapped out 16 hits, paced by Whitney Bell (3 for 3, including her fifth homer), Stephanie Rudis (3 for 5, 3 RBIs), Emily Pontes (2 for 3) and Paige Sanseverino (2 for 3, 2 RBIs). Nicole Comppen, whose father, Charlie, is the coach of Pope John, was the winning pitcher.
Lynn Classical 6, Marblehead 3
Playing their fourth game in four days, the Magicians couldn't keep pace with the Rams and fell to 8-4. Marblehead shortstop Kate Fallon had a double and an RBI, catcher Hannah Pelkey also chipped in a double and Laura Kanarski had a run-scoring single. Courtney Colantuno struck out seven but took the loss.
Lynn Classical shortstop Aston Dean was 3 for 4 with three RBIs.
Arlington Catholic 7, Bishop Fenwick 0
It was Fenwick's fifth straight loss in a 3-9 season and the Crusaders have scored a grand total of three runs in their losingf streak. Fenwick started the week with a .223 team batting mark and fell to .200 after this latest loss. Arlington was off to a 3-0 start with a two-run homer in the opening inning.
Christina Cepriani was 1 for 3 and freshman shortstop Amy Pelletier had a hit and starred defensively for Fenwick.
Ipswich 12, Rockport 0
Junior Kerry Desmond gave herself all the runs she needed with a double, a triple and two RBI, as she threw a shutout on the mound with nine strikeouts. Krista MacKenzie had three hits and Courtney Rosales had three hits, including two doubles, as the Tigers (11-1) totaled 18 hits as a team.
Swampscott 13, Beverly 1
Carissa Roche limited Beverly to three hits and the Big Blue broke the game open with four runs in the second inning, making it 7-1. Mallorie McGrath was 3 for 4 with two RBIs for the Big Blue and Monica Mosho also had three hits.
Monica Cassola had a double and scored the only run for Beverly, which fell to 3-8. Daryl Powell was 1 for 2 and Jayne Spiridigliozzi had a double. Elise Perron took the loss on the mound.
Danvers 7, Lynn English 2
The Falcons (9-4) scored seven unanswered runs to erase a 2-0 deficit and trump the Bulldogs. Caraline Moholland hit a two-run single in the third to jumpstart Danvers, which also saw Kim Leonard go 2 for 2 with three runs scored and Ashley Burnham score twice and drive in a run. Diana Bean added two hits and pitched 52/3 innings with three strikeouts.
BOYS TENNIS
St. John's Prep 5, Xaverian 0
Continuing a remarkable streak, the Eagles won the Catholic Conference title for the 18th time in 19 seasons under coach Mark Metropolis as they cruised past the Hawks to improve to 7-0 in conference play.
James Houlden (7-6, 7-4), Spencer Canny (6-2, 6-2) and John Corvi (6-0, 6-0) handled the singles, and Jake Doue-Giovanni Maffeo (6-0, 6-3) and Chris Trosin-Chris Sullivan (6-4, 6-4) prevailed in doubles.
The state individual tourney will be held this weekend in Chelmsford.
Austin Prep 4, Bishop Fenwick 1
Winless Fenwick (0-9) had something to celebrate as two sophomores at No. 2 doubles, Brian Bell and Francisco Anzoategoi won their first varsity victory, 7-5, 3-6, 7-6 (7-5).
Hamilton-Wenham 3, Masconomet 2
Hamilton-Wenham's Charlie Graves outlasted Masco's Trevor White in a three-set second singles match to give the battle of the CAL's unbeatens to the Generals (8-0). Chase Curtis and Nick Petrou won at first and third as H-W took all three singles matches.
The Chieftains (8-1, 7-1 CAL) took both doubles matches behind the efforts of Will Chandler and Jack Moriarty as well as Steve Affrow and Mike Sicari.
Marblehead 5, Lynn Classical 0
The Magicians improved to a perfect 9-0 by winning each match agains the Rams in straight sets,. Collin Hyte (6-1, 6-1), Alec Eidelman (6-0, 6-2) and Sean O'Connor (6-1, 6-0) got the job done in singles competition while the doubles wins came from the tandems of Chris Conn-Kyle Benowitz (6-0, 6-4) and Chris Butterfield-David Traynor (6-0, 7-5).
Danvers 4, Lynn English 1
The Falcons (4-6, 5-9) won their third in a row with Phil Marchinski (6-2, 7-6), Matt Arias (6-4, 7-5); Kevin McManus-George Wheeler (-0, 6-2) and Matt Costanza-Bob Fuller (6-2, 6-0) leading the way.
Beverly 4, Revere 1
Beverly (6-3) got wins from No. 1 singles Trevor Harwood (6-1, 6-1), No. 3 singles Dean Littlefield (6-2, 7-5) and the doubles teams composed of Rich Xenos-Steve Norton (6-2, 3-6, 6-3) and John Tiplady-Ben August (6-3, 7-6).
Ipswich 3, Amesbury 2
The Tigers (5-5) swept the singles with Matt Burke (6-4, 7-5), Nate Brown (6-0, 6-1) and Mike Krathwohl (6-3, 6-2), reversing a loss to the Indians earlier this season.
GIRLS TENNIS
Swampscott's Jen Cleary stopped Beverly star Sabrina Salmela's 35 match unbeaten streak with a riveting 4-6, 6-2, 6-1 triumph at first singles to help propel the Big Blue (9-0) in a battle of the NEC's unbeaten titans. Micalla Houtstein won second singles 6-2, 6-3, and Yuliya Sergeyeva took third singles, 2-6, 6-3, 6-4.
The Panthers (10-1) dropped a trio of three-set matches in pushing Swampscott to the limit. Kara Gillberg teamed with Kate Hall (6-1, 7-6) and Rebecca Ruskin joined Jane Malinkovich (6-2, 3-6, 6-4) as the Big Blue swept the doubles matches as well.
Bishop Fenwick 3, Abp. Williams 2
Fenwick caputured all three singles with Ami Ingemi, 6-2, 6-3; Vanessa Poirier, 6-1, 6-0, and Lizzy Trainor, who ran her record to 11-1 with a 6-0, 6-0 win.
Ipswich 4, Amesbury 1
Ipswich hiked its record to 3-7, led by Jess Cote (6-3, 6-1), Hilary Lynch (6-2, 6-2) and Bridget Fay (6-3, 6-3) in singles and the second doubles team of Kate McKinnon-Casey Hancock (6-4, 6-3).
GIRLS LACROSSE
Danvers 12, Swampscott 11
The Falcons picked up their second win of the year (2-11), exceeding last year's win total. Erica Veilleux, who scored the game-winner with less than two minutes left, led the way with the way with four goals and two assists. Freshman Katharine Jennings added three goals and an assist. Senior Ashley Sullivan had two goals and an assist and Suzy Libby finished with a goal and four assists. Veilleux has 20 goals for the season.
BOYS LACROSSE
Masconomet 14, Triton 9
Senior attack Ben Santos collected six goals and two assists for the Chieftains, who boosted their record to 11-3. Conor Cliffe finished with three goals while Mike Maffeo had two goals and assist. Danny Clark, Mike Broms and Mike Magnifico each had one goal. Kevin Van Lenten had nine saves in goal.
Peabody 11, Danvers 3
Mike Pennachio was 3-3 and raised his totals to 23-19-43 as the Tanners (10-3, 8-0 NEC North) dominated, leading 8-2 at the berak. Derek West (2-1), Mark D'Addario (2) and Mike Martin (2) added to the offense and Luke Moran and Billy Daly had a single goal each. Justin Famigletti had 17 saves.
VOLLEYBALL
Lawrence 3, St. John's Prep 0
The Eagles lost to their nemesis in the Merrimack Valley Conference as the Lancers prevailed, 25-21, 25-19 and 25-16. Pat Heffernan had seven kills for the Prep (12-3), which had won six straight.
North Andover 12, Masconomet 10
The Chieftains got three goals and an assist from Brittany Fraser, but it wasn't enough. Maura Brazel added a goal and an assist for Masco, which lost for the first time all season.
BOYS LACROSSE
North Andover 8, Hamilton-Wenham 7 (OT)
Casey Colyer's third goal of the game, coming with 24 seconds to play, tied the game for Hamilton-Wenham at 7-7 and send it to overtime, but the visiting Knights won it two minutes into the extra session. Ryan Gendreau and Ryan Hanna both added two goals for the 8-5 Generals.
COLLEGE SOFTBALL
Endicott 7, Keuka 1
Jen Elwell fired a complete game seven-hitter with four strikeouts as the Gulls (39-4) cruised in the first round of the NCAA Division 3 Eastern Regionals at Cardinal Park in Plattsburgh, N.Y. Catcher Meghan Sargent higlighted a four-run sixth inning with a two-run double to break the game open. Paula McGinn added three hits and two runs scored; Danielle Sargent had two hits and scored twice; Jenna Lazar knocked in a pair of runs; and Rachel Pearson had two hits.
The second-seeded Gulls will face No. 3 St. John's Fisher (25-19) in the winner's bracket today at 2 p.m.
