Sachems make postseason for 7th straight year

  Qualifying for the state playoffs for the seventh season in a row was just one of the recent achievements for the Saugus High School softball team. With a 14-7 win over Salem last Saturday at the Belmonte School Field, the Sachems also clinched their second Northeastern Conference Lynch Division title in three years. They were the runner-up last year and have gone 22-2 in the division over the past three seasons.

  A 16-4 mercy-rule victory over Swampscott last Wednesday was Saugus’s 10th win of the spring and earned the Sachems, who sport a roster exclusively of underclassmen players, their postseason berth. “I’m extremely proud of these kids for what they have been able to accomplish this season, especially given the fact that we are so young,” said Head Coach Steve Almquist after the Salem win. “Going into the season there were a lot of unknowns, and I don’t think anybody saw this type of season unfolding.”

  The offense was at its best against Salem as Lily Ventre led the way with four hits, two triples and two RBIs. Devany Millerick added three hits and two RBIs, and Ava Rogers and Kaitlyn Pugh combined for four hits (two each). Rogers drove in two and Maria Silva (hit and two RBIs) and Sydney Deleidi (RBI) chipped in as well.

  Pitcher Taylor Deleidi hurled a complete game victory, and Alexa Morello, Danica Schena and Isabella Natalucci had standout defensive games. Hannah Duong was key on the basepaths with several stolen bases. The Sachems put the game away for good by scoring nine times over the final three innings.

  Against Swampscott, the bats were again in full gear as the Sachems collected 20 hits total. Taylor Deleidi was the winning pitcher. Pugh socked four hits, including two doubles and a triple plus two RBIs. Millerick and Rogers each contributed three hits and two RBIs, and Ventre and Morello both recorded two hits and drove in two. Sydney Deleidi finished with three knocks. Duong drove in a run with her first varsity base hit, while Schena drilled a triple and Abby Enwright and Silva both reached base safely. Saugus put the contest away early by scoring six times in the first inning.

  A 10-2 loss at Masconomet on Monday and a close 6-5 defeat against Somerville on Tuesday left Saugus with an 11-8 overall record entering this Thursday’s regular-season finale at Pentucket.

  Almquist said the performance of this year’s squad is “a credit to the hard work that these kids have put in along with the outstanding job preparing these kids by my assistant coaches Amanda Naso [the junior varsity head coach], Joe Cimetti, Mike Shaw, Anthony Ascolese, and Billy Enwright.”

  In the Somerville contest, Taylor Deleidi hurled a complete-game effort with five strikeouts. Millerick posted three hits and drove in two runs while Rogers brought in a run with a triple. Sydney Deleidi had two hits.