By Mike Grenier
DANVERS — Everett High softball coach John Nuzzolo held out hope that playing No. 1 seeded Danvers might work in his team's favor in the Division 1 North state tournament. The theory is that some teams don't perform well in a home setting when so much is on the line in the first postseason game.
But what Nuzzolo discovered here Saturday in a 5-0 elimination game defeat is that Danvers appears to be built for the long haul.
The Falcons go right back at it today at home (4 p.m.) against Lincoln-Sudbury, which ousted Peabody, 1-0.
"We battled them pitch for pitch, but in a game like this little things can kill you," said Nuzzolo. "We didn't do the little things and Danvers did everything right. That's why we're 11-10 and they're 21-0."
Nuzzolo was on the money. The Falcons were practically flawless in every department while methodically chipping away at the Crimson Tide.
Senior righthander Diana Bean pitched a spectacular game, tossing a two-hitter (one of those hits was a bunt that traveled about three feet) and striking out eight. You never sensed that she would get in trouble because of her command of the strike zone.
"She set the tone with her first pitch," said Jill Carroll, who has been Bean's catcher for four years. "She was really painting the corners and hitting her spots. She wasn't giving them anything (to hit)."
Offensively, Danvers put enormous pressure on Everett pitcher Stephanie Chaves and her fielders by putting the ball in play and making daring baserunning moves. It was no different than what they had done in their previous 20 games.
How's this for putting the heat on the underdog? Danvers shortstop Gabby Vega got herself involved in a rundown between home and third with two outs in the first inning and when the Everett catcher vacated her position, Vega sprinted home to make it 1-0.
"The first baseman was supposed to come down and cover home, but she didn't do it," said Nuzzolo. "Something like that really changes a game. Danvers forces you to make plays — and then you end up making mistakes."
Danvers eventually piled up 11 hits against a tiring Chaves. Janelle Saggese was 3 for 3 while Alicia Dean, Logan Carabello, Hannah Demirdogen and Carroll each had two hits.
"My focus was just on keeping it together," said Bean, who didn't show any outward nervousness. "It was a huge lift when Gabby scored the first run. After that we just connected as a team."
The Falcons were protecting a 2-0 lead when they broke it open with three runs in the fifth. Carroll provided a run-scoring triple, another run scored on a fielder's choice and Justine Pratt induced a bases-loaded walk for the final run.
"We're not looking at this as if there's pressure on us," said Danvers coach Tara Petrocelli. "That's for outsiders to say. We're not 21-0; we're 1-0 and we've got another game (today). That's how we look at it."
