Revere softball team falls short in thriller at Northeast

  Unlike many other teams this spring, which has been marred by inclement weather, the Revere High School softball team has been able to play most of its games as scheduled. The Patriots were already 14 games into their season entering Tuesday’s road matchup against the Northeast Metro Tech Knights.

  Coming off two straight wins – over Northeast last week and Chelsea on Monday – the Patriots were looking to make it three in a row. They nearly pulled it off, but an eighth-inning walk-off, three-run homer catapulted the host Knights to a dramatic 17-16 win. The loss left Revere at 4-11 overall with three games remaining on the schedule.

  The Patriots were without their regular starting pitcher, Isabella Qualtieri, who was out with an injury. Replacing her was Ally Straccia, who was making her first start of the season and ended up striking out two. Through three innings, it was looking pretty good for the Patriots, who built a 6-2 lead with the help of a two-run blast off the bat of Lea Doucette.

  Northeast battled back to take the lead, but Revere fought back and owned a 16-14 lead entering the bottom of the eighth frame. Bella Stamatopoulos singled for Revere to bring in the go-ahead run in the top of the eighth.

  Patriots Head Coach Megan O’Donnell praised the effort of her squad, citing the defensive play of outfielders Astrid Noriega, Lilian Calderon and Brianna Miranda, infielders Riley Straccia, Doucette, Jordan Martelli, who was making her first varsity start at second base, Luiza Santos and catcher Ari Keohane. “It was a whole team effort even though we came up short,” O’Donnell said of the loss.

  On offense, Doucette nearly launched a second home run, but it drifted just foul down the left field line. She finished with three hits and three RBIs, and Riley Straccia contributed three hits and an RBI. Noriega also belted three hits and drove in three.

  The Patriots defeated the Knights by an 18-12 score when the two teams met last Thursday in Revere. The Patriots hosted Malden on Wednesday and entertain Everett this Friday at St. Mary’s Park. They close out the season with home games against O’Bryant on Monday, May 16, and Somerville on Wednesday, May 18.