Everett smokes two more GBL foes to secure the championship

Crimson Tide wraps up regular season next week against Minuteman Regional, Cambridge

  The good times keep on rolling for the Everett High School softball team (12-1 in the Greater Boston League, 15-1 overall) after another mercy rule shortened fifth inning game, this time against Somerville at Glendale Park on May 10, 14-2.

  “A lot of our runs were scored on walks, but that was because the girls were patient at the plate,” said coach Stacy Poste. “The umpire really was not calling strikes unless if it was right down the middle of the plate for both teams.”

  “We did give them a pep talk about being patient and waiting on the ball, and they adjusted and started to make contact. We came out a little late with the bats, but we knew in the fourth inning we had to extend the lead, because Somerville had just beaten Medford, and I knew they could potentially come back, and we couldn’t chance that…happening to us,” added Poste.

  Pitcher Kristi Skane went all five innings in the circle, scattering just three hits and one walk, while fanning five.

  The home team jumped all over Somerville right away in the first inning for five runs. Emma Longmore started it off with a walk. After an out, Skane followed with another walk. Both runners then moved up into scoring position on a passed ball before Kayley Rossi reached first on a dropped third strike. Longmore then scored on a passed ball before Rossi stole second. Ashley Seward drew a walk to reload the bases for Gianna Masucci, who walked in another run. Alexa Uga grounded into a fielder’s choice to shortstop that cut down a run at the plate, but Seward soon scored on another passed ball before Bryanna Mason provided the fireworks with a two-run double to close out the scoring in the opening stanza.

  The Highlanders did get two back in the second, but the Everett girls put this game away for good with six more runs in the fourth. With one out, Skane and Rossi each singled to get another uprising going. Seward knocked in Skane with a hit to the outfield. Rossi and Seward then advanced on a passed ball before Masucci doubled in both runners with a shot down the third base line. Uga then drew a walk before Mason singled in Masucci. Arabella Cvitkusic then faked a bunt, allowing Uga and Mason to complete the double steal before she doubled both of them home.

  The Tide scored their final three runs in the fifth to invoke the mercy rule, once again. Rossi started this threat off with a double. Seward followed with a walk. Both runners then advanced on a passed ball before Masucci walked to load the bases. Uga also walked to score Rossi, and Mason drove home another run on a flyball. Masucci then sent everybody home happy on the Everett side of the field after scoring on a hit by Cvitkusic.

Seniors celebrate their day with another win

  Monday was Senior Day at Glendale Park, and after the Everett seniors were honored for their accomplishments during the last four years in the program, the Tide, who are ranked 34^th in the latest Division 1 state tournament rankings as of May 16, hammered Revere to the tune of 16-2 in another five-inning mercy rule game to wrap up the league title.

  Skane went the distance in the circle once again to secure another win after giving up six hits, no walks and two earned runs over five innings. She whiffed 10.

  “It was a such a great feeling on Senior Day to get the win,” said Poste. “The girls knew they had to beat Revere, because we knew they beat Medford, which helped us stay in first place. We knew they were coming here to beat us. But we came out getting important hits when we needed them.”

  After Revere scored once in the first, the home team came right back to put up nine runs in the home half to seal this verdict early. Emma Longmore was hit by a pitch to lead off the uprising. Emilia Maria-Babcock then walked, along with Skane, to load the bases. Rossi followed with a single to right to plate the first two runs of the game. Skane eventually made it to third, while Rossi stole second a short time later. Seward drew a walk to reload the bases before Masucci walked in a run. Uga knocked in two more on a hard-hit ball. Mason kept the scoring frenzy going with a walk, sending Longmore to the plate with one out, and she delivered in the clutch with a two-run double, as did Skane, who smacked her double with two outs.

  “This was a huge inning for us,” said Poste. “Even with the walks, we were able to get the hits when we needed them. When Revere defeated Medford last week, it put us in the driver’s seat for the GBL title as long as we win out, so we knew we needed to get as many runs and hits as possible against the Patriots to remain on top.”

  The Tide scored twice more in the second. Masucci was first hit by pitch before Uga singled up the middle. Mason followed with another single to give Longmore another opportunity to knock in runs, and she did so with her second two-run double in as many innings.

  The Everett girls closed things out with five more in the third. Skane first singled before moving to second on a passed ball. With two outs, Masucci was credited with a hit up the middle to drive home one. She then advanced to third via two passed balls before Uga singled her in. Mason and Julia Curran both drew intentional walks to load the bases for Longmore, who walked to produce yet another run. Maria-Babcock then completed the offense in the inning, as well as the game, with a two-run single.

  After a 3-1 loss to host Medford on Tuesday, the Everett girls will complete the regular season next week against non-league Minuteman Regional in Lexington on Monday at 4 p.m. before returning to Glendale to take on Cambridge in another non-league matchup two days later, starting at 4:30 p.m.