Crimson Tide shuts down non-league Salem Charter sandwiched around tough losses to Somerville, Revere

Everett baseball team remains alive for the postseason, needing to win three out of its last four games

  The Everett High School baseball team (5-9 in the Greater Boston League, 7-9 overall) dropped a 1-0 heartbreaker to host Somerville at Trum Field before they came home to shut down non-league Salem Charter School last Friday, 11-0. It was definitely a good old-fashioned pitching duel against the Highlanders under the Trum Field twilight last Wednesday, May 10. The Crimson Tide had previously beaten their Somerville counterparts, 5-4 at Glendale on April 28.

  Everett’s top pitcher, Matt Turilli, and Somerville’s ace hurler, Kevin Clarke, were in control throughout the contest. It remained scoreless until the home half of the seventh, when the Highlanders, trying to avoid extra innings, loaded the bases on an infield single, an error and a bunt single. Their wishes to win it in regulation were then realized on a bloop single over the drawn-in infield.

  Turilli went six-plus innings, giving up just five hits and no earned runs. He fanned seven batters along the way. Offensively, the Tide was led by Alex Lara with two hits in as many at bats, and Alex Velasco, who was credited with a hit.

  “This was really a well-pitched and well-played game by both sides,” said coach Joel Levine. “Matt was fantastic. It was the best game he has pitched in three seasons for us. He didn’t get into a single three-ball count, and after what happened against Lynn English [in the previous game] that was really refreshing to see. But we still have some work to do now after losing our third straight game.”

  The Everett boys then took their frustrations out on the Salem Charter School to the tune of 11-0. The home team jumped out to an early lead and never looked back. Enrico Vega led the way with two hits and one RBI, while also scoring once. Omar Marshall, David Saia, Albert Santana, Velasco, Lara and Turilli chipped in with one hit apiece. Marshall got the win for the Tide on the mound to improve to 6-8.

  “It was a nice way to wrap up a tough week,” said Levine, “after a game that we gave away to English and a tough loss to Somerville.”

  The Tide, however, started a brand-new week with another heartbreaker, when host Revere ended up edging them in a comeback effort, 9-7, on Monday. The Tide jumped out to an early 3-0 lead in the top of the first on a two-run single by Nordeivy Santana, who ended up going 1-3 with two RBI in the game, while also scoring a run. But that lead was quickly erased when the Patriots scored seven in the home half.

  Despite giving up the lead, Everett still remained focused and started chipping away at the four-run deficit, eventually tying up the game at seven in the fourth on a two-run single by Lara (2-3, 2 RBI, 2 runs scored). However, in the bottom of the fourth, Revere regained the lead for good with two runs. The winning rally was started innocently enough by the visitors hitting two batters.

  Isaiah Goffigan (2-4), Nick Gilbert (1-1), Albert Santana (1-4, 1 RBI) and Velasco (1-4, 1 run) also contributed to the Everett offense in this close loss to Revere. Nordeivy Santana took the loss on the mound after throwing 4.2-innings and allowing just two hits and two earned runs.

  “We need to do a better job of playing a full seven inning game,” said Levine. “We have had great spurts of playing fantastic baseball, but we are still in no position to take innings off, and as a result we’ve backed ourselves into a corner needing to win four out of our next five games to get into the state tournament. But these kids have been resilient all season long, and I expect them to continue to compete.”

  The Tide already got one of those needed victories on Tuesday after defeating Medford, 8-3, at home. More on this game in next Friday’s Advocate. They will finish the week against non-league Charlestown at Glendale later today, starting at 4 p.m.