Team unity and grit drive Saugus High to a pair of heartfelt victories

By Dom Nicastro

The Saugus High School softball team is 2-2 (1-2 in the Northeastern Conference). “I’m pleased with where we are and what I’ve seen from the team so far,” Saugus coach Steve Almquist said.

The team beat Hamilton-Wenham, 14-11. Junior captain Taylor Deleidi went the distance on the mound, picking up her first win of the season. She also helped herself at the plate with two hits and three RBI. Taylor’s line was as follows:

• seven innings pitched
• 11 runs (nine earned)
• 13 hits
• six walks
• two strikeouts

On offense, Saugus had 13 hits and the key contributors were as follows: Deleidi (2-for-4 with three RBI); Sydney Deleidi, 2B (2-for-4 with three runs scored); Captain Lily Ventre, C (2-for-3 with two doubles, two RBI and three runs scored); Captain Devany Millerick, SS (2-for-3 with three RBI and three runs scored); Captain Ava Rogers, 3B (2-for-4 with three RBI and two runs scored); Senior Felicia Alexander, PH (1-for-1 with a double and two RBI); Junior Danica Schena (1-for-4); Senior Kaitlyn Pugh (1-for-4 with two runs scored).

“We have a ton of work to do if we want to remain competitive, but it was nice to get that first win under our belt,” Almquist said.

Saugus also handled Winthrop, 16-4, in a mercy rule six innings. “This was by far the best game we have played thus far in the young season,” Almquist said. “Our pitching, defense, hitting and base running were all on point in this one. The game was never in doubt as we scored four in the first and another four in the second giving us a nice 8-0 cushion which allowed us to play a bit more relaxed. It was a great team win with all 14 rostered players in uniform for the game contributing.”

Deleidi had her best outing of the season and went the distance in this one, notching her second win in two days. She went six innings, allowing four earned runs, three hits, three walks and four strikeouts.

Saugus had eight hits and the key contributors were as follows: Ventre (1-for-2 with a double, three RBI, three walks and four runs scored); Millerick (1-for-4 with two runs scored); Rogers (1-for-2 with a double and RBI); Alexander (2-for-3 with two RBI); Junior Alexa Morello, 1B (1-for-2 with a double and two RBI); Senior Paige Hogan, PH (1-for-1, RBI); Sophomore Maria Silva, PH (1-for-1, RBI); Senior Bella Natalucci, LF (two walks, two RBI); Freshman Arianna Chianca, DH (two walks, RBI); Freshman Sydney Deleidi, 2B (four walks, RBI).

“It’s nice to start the week with a little win streak, and I am extremely proud of the kids as these past two games as they have been playing with a heavy heart,” Almquist said. “Our left fielder Kaitlyn Pugh who means so much to our team lost her dad Ron this past Friday after a long and courageous battle with brain cancer so the kids made it a point to do whatever they could to get a couple of wins for the Pugh family. Ron was one of our biggest supporters, and he will be deeply missed but will always remain forever in our hearts.”

Almquist said the season is still young and the team has got a lot of work to do if it wants to remain competitive. “But we’re starting to see some improvement,” the coach said. “I’m carrying 17 players on the varsity roster including three eighth graders, so we’re still in the process of figuring out who fits where. It’s been a lot of trial and error the first four games, but that will kind of play itself out as we get into next week. The goal right now is to continue to show improvement from game to game. I know it’s not always going to go as planned as there will be some stumbling blocks along the way, but I’m confident that we are heading in the right direction.”

Saugus plays at Gloucester on Friday, April 19, at 4 p.m. “They have always been a thorn in our side and is the only team that we have never beaten in my tenure here,” Almquist said. “We’ve come close several times but can never seem to get over the hump. They are always fundamentally sound and are a team that can frustrate you with their aggressive style of base running so it is important that we maintain our composure and keep the game close. We will need to play a clean game which doesn’t always come easy for us and hopefully try to steal one.”

Saugus fell to Danvers this past week, 11-4. It was a one-run game going into the fifth before Danvers broke it open. “Even though the score doesn’t reflect it, the kids played much better than the last game,” Almquist said. “We banged out nine hits and had runners in scoring position six out of the seven innings but just couldn’t come through with the big hit. Defense played extremely well with no errors, and we made a very good hitting Danvers team earn all of their runs.”

Leading the way on offense were freshman Sydney Deleidi, who went 1-for-2 with a run scored; sister Taylor Deleidi went 3-for-4 with an RBI; Ventre was 2-for-4 with two RBI; Hogan was 2-for-2 with a run scored; Alexander went 1-for-2 with a run scored. Schena played exceptionally well, recording five putouts along with Millerick, who stood out once again at her shortstop position, according to Almquist.