Fast Pitches
Mike Grenier
Swampscott High softball coach Annamaria Addonizio sounded a little breathless on the ride home from Winthrop Wednesday night, like she needed an oxygen mask.
She'll take that feeling anytime her team can pull out a big win in dramatic fashion.
With visions of first place in the Northeastern Conference South still in mind, Swampscott shaded Winthrop, 3-2, on catcher Sam Perry's two-out, two-run single in the seventh. The victory left the Big Blue (9-5) alone in second place, just a game behind Danvers in the loss column.
Perry's game-winning heroics came as no surprise to her teammates and coach. For pitchers Carissa Roche and sophomore Kristin Vinal, having Perry behind the plate is like putting on a comfortable pair of shoes. Perry is a four-year starter and has a clear understanding of what her pitchers need to do.
However, the biggest improvement in Perry's game has come on offense. She's off the charts this season, hitting .634 with a team-high 15 RBIs. Addonizio calls her an unsung hero, but Perry is really having an MVP-type of season considering her all-around contributions.
"She's awesome behind the plate and is hitting like crazy," said Addonizio, who adjusted the way Perry holds the bat, putting her hands closer together. "Sam is like a different person with the bat. Her summer league coach came up to me and said, 'Whatever you did with her, let me know because it's going to help me as a coach.' I didn't do much at all, just noticed something minor. Sam is the one doing all the hitting."
Perry's teammates, some of whom have been playing with her since grammar school, have been in awe of how she's transformed herself from a pretty good hitter in previous years to one of the toughest outs in the conference.
"As a senior captain, she's been incredible," said Big Blue junior Marissa Gambale, who's had a superb year at shortstop and as a leadoff batter who often reaches base ahead of Perry. "The whole team has so much faith in Sam. We're not quite sure how she's doing it, but we just want her to keep it up."
Junior Mallarie McGrath, who's been a stalwart at second base and third base for the Big Blue, said, "I've played with (Perry) forever, going back to travel teams. She's always been a good hitter, but something's happened this year. She's just so much better."
Perry said this has been "by far" her best season. She hasn't been paying much attention to her batting average, but when she found out what it was, she said, "Are you serious? I had no idea it was anything like that. I'm much happier with my performance and how we've come together as a team."
Led by Perry, Swampscott has what you might call the Big Four. Gambale, a three-year starter, is hitting .532 at the top of the order and immediately exerts pressure on the opposing team with her ability to steal bases. McGrath is hitting .511 with 13 RBIs at the No. 2 spot and has yet to make an error at either second or third base. Senior centerfielder Katherine Gorham has heated up in the last few games and has pushed her average to .525 with 13 RBIs.
"McGrath has a great swing — she has all the skills and this is her best year," said Addonizio, "and Gambale is very dangerous because she hits from the left side. She's a tough out. She's 15-for-15 in stolen bases, so she's always a threat. Sometimes Marissa will reach base, steal second and Mallarie will sacrifice bunt her to third.
"After that we have Gorham and Perry coming up, so our chances of scoring are very good."
Swampscott is averaging better than six runs per game, and the players feel the team could make a lot of noise in the state tourney. As a team, Swampscott is hitting .358
"I think this is the most talented team since I've been here," said Gambale. "We're one of the top teams (in the NEC), and I think we can go pretty far (in the postseason)."
nnn
Coach Dan Bertone isn't about to make excuses, but his Salem High team would be the winner of the Hard Luck Award if such a thing existed.
The Witches (5-9) have lost three games by a run and two others by two runs. If they had been a little more fortunate, they would be a .500 team and scuffling to make the state tourney for the first time since 2000.
Salem's 5-4 loss to an outstanding Peabody team on Wednesday really stung. Now the Witches practically have to run the table to win the requisite 10 games and qualify for the postseason.
"I told the kids before we played Peabody that I didn't want them to leave any part of the game on the bus," said Bertone. "The kids poured their hearts out. It's disheartening to lose like that, but I told them that if they can play every game the way the played against Peabody, we have a chance to put together a winning streak."
Susie Barnes and Jessica Ngo have been the offensive leaders for the Witches. Barnes, who plays center field, is hitting .442 and has 15 RBIs. Right fielder Ngo is hitting .415 and has seven doubles.
"(Marblehead coach) Johnny Gold says we play them tougher than anybody," said Bertone. "We've heard that from a couple of coaches. As long as the kids keep playing hard, that's all I can ask."
nnn
Fresh off a phenomenal 5-4 win over perennial power Amesbury in the Cape Ann League on Wednesday, Ipswich (14-1) is looking to draw a good crowd with a rare Saturday night home game against Northeastern Conference member Beverly at Bialek Field (7 p.m.). Ipswich coach Doug Woodworth will give out complimentary Bleacher Creature T-shirts to the first 20 kids in attendance.
Meanwhile, Woodworth still can't get over the mammoth home run that his star pitcher, Kerry Desmond, hit against Amesbury. "I think it's the longest (homer) I've ever seen by an Ipswich girl," said Woodworth. "She hit it about 50 feet over the (right fielder's) head."
Ipswich kept its momentum going yesterday with a solid 7-1 win over Lynnfield, assuring the Tigers of at least a share of the CAL small title.
nnn
North Shore Tech, which has been one of the top teams in the area (14-3 at the moment), will visit Salem next Thursday (7 p.m. at Mack Park) in the fourth annual Chuck Mekolski game, played in honor of the former Beverly Times/Salem News sportswriter. Salem holds a 2-1 edge in the series.
"It's always a competitive game," said North Shore Tech coach Joe Balzirini. "We have 5-6 Salem kids in our program, so we look forward to it."
nnn
Bishop Fenwick (4-10) can trace its problems to two things — shaky defense and a lack of consistent hitting. The Crusaders made eight errors in a 4-3 loss to Austin Prep on Monday, but bounced back for a terrific 2-1 win over Archbishop Williams two days later. Bishop Fenwick won that one despite getting just two hits.
"We haven't been playing great," said Bishop Fenwick coach Paul Lyman. "When you're making that many errors, the other team's entire lineup is seeing our pitcher again. That doesn't help."
First baseman Christina Cipriani (.454) has been the Crusaders best all-around player by far. Sophomore Alyssa Begin, a transfer from St. Mary's of Lynn, has put together a couple of good pitching performances of late. Her sister, Courtney, pitched a five-hitter in beating Archbishop Williams.
Fast Pitches, a column on North Shore high school softball, appears every Friday during the season in the Salem News. To reach Mike Grenier, call 978-338-2676 or e-mail mgrenier@salemnews.com.
