Lady Sachems softball no-hits Stoneham for second win

  After dropping three straight games, the Saugus High School softball team received a needed turnaround when freshman Taylor Deleidi got the start on Monday and hurled a no-hit win at Stoneham. It was her first career varsity start.

  Deleidi also helped her own cause at the plate by knocking out two hits and driving in two. She struck out 13 hitters in her five-inning effort on the mound. The Sachems eventually won by a 15-0 count.

  Many of the younger players had a chance to perform in the victory. Bella Natalucci produced the first RBI and two hits of her career and Paige Hogan tallied her first three varsity RBIs. Abby Enwright also finished with the first hit and RBI of her career.

  The Stoneham victory left Saugus at 2-3 on the season. Last Friday, the Sachems came out on the short end of a 10-2 final at home against Masconomet. Despite the score, Head Coach Steve Almquist praised his team’s effort, especially that of starting pitcher Fallon Millerick.

  “Fallon pitched very well, and I don’t think the stats really reflect that,” he told the press. “There were some defensive lapses that led to some extra runs but Fallon was able to pitch her way out of tight spots and there weren’t that many. There was never an inning we thought she couldn’t get out of.”

  Millerick gave up just six hits and fanned four in her seven innings of work. Offensively, Ava Rogers led the attack with two hits, followed by two hits from Danica Schena and a base hit from Gianna Costa.

  Looking ahead, Almquist said his young team is experiencing some growing pains early in the season but the effort and camaraderie are there. “The chemistry between these girls is absolutely amazing. They’ve been playing together since they were little, coming up through little league together, and they’re always cheering [for each other].”

  Saugus hosted morning games against Somerville on Thursday and Beverly on Friday. Next week, they are scheduled to host Pentucket Regional at the Belmonte Middle School Field on Monday, April 25, and travel to take on Swampscott on Wednesday, April 27.