Youthful Tide baseball deals with growing pains after dropping three straight games

Everett is scheduled to host Medford Monday afternoon at Glendale Park 

By Joe McConnell

After beating Chelsea to open up the season, the Everett High School baseball team (1-3) has dropped three straight home games. First-year head coach Malik Love says the team’s youthfulness has plagued them so far against more experienced varsity teams.

“We have started off the season playing some really good teams, and have a bunch of young guys who have to go up against them,” said Love. “We only have four seniors on the varsity roster. I start three freshmen, and have also already sprinkled in a couple of sophomores and a junior to take regular turns in our everyday lineup.

“It’s still early on in the season, and as these young players gain more varsity experience, we still have plenty of time to turn everything around,” added Love.

The Everett boys lost to Lynn English on April 10, 8-2, before Somerville stung them on Patriots Day, 11-1.

Freshman Derek Soper started on the mound against the Bulldogs, going the first four innings. “He did a really good job,” said Love of Soper.

“Overall, we have played pretty well, but we have had that one critical inning that cost us wins,” the coach continued. “We’re just not making the routine play in those critical situations. We’re just overthinking that situational stuff.”

Isaiah Goffigan followed Soper to the mound for two innings, before senior Enrico Vega pitched the seventh.

In this game, the Tide gave up six runs in the third inning, otherwise it was basically evenly played between the two schools at Glendale Park.

Alex Lara and Charlie Govostes led the Tide offense against English with singles. Everett was able to avoid the shutout with two runs late in the game.

Against Somerville, Vega pitched the first three innings. Junior Albert Santana and Reinaldo Santiago also saw time on the hill, before the game was halted in the fifth, because of the mercy rule. Freshman Armani Negron picked up a single on offense.

Coach Love’s squad has since gone up against host Revere on April 17 after press deadline. They will then take on visiting Medford Monday afternoon (April 22) at Glendale Park, starting at 4:15 p.m. Two days later, the Tide will head to Malden’s Pine Banks to face the Golden Tornadoes, beginning at 4 p.m.