~ Saugus High School Sachems Sports Round-Up ~

Saugus girls’ lacrosse starts hot

By Dom Nicastro

The Saugus girls’ lacrosse team has picked up another two wins. The team beat Gloucester, 9-4, at home. Scoring for Saugus were Nina Penachio with two goals and one assist. Juliana Scalisi added three goals, and Jessica Valley, Ashley Rezendes, Mara Faiella and Natalie Justice each added a goal.

Saugus also hosted Salem and won, 12-3. Penachio had two goals and two assists, while Scalisi, Valley, Rezendes (assist), Faiella and Paige Millea added one goal each. Aly Mabee scored three goals and had one assist. Eden Miniscalco had a pair of goals.

Saugus softball team falls to Marblehead

Saugus opened the season with a 6-1 loss to Marblehead.

“This game was closer than the final score would indicate,” Saugus coach Steve Almquist said. “Marblehead is an outstanding team, very well coached, and are fundamentally sound in all areas of the game, but we played them tough. Their starting pitcher is the real deal.”

Saugus only managed to get three hits and had a hard time catching up to the Marblehead ace’s blazing fastball as the Sachems struck out 12 times.

“However, we did do some good things against them and some things that we will work to improve on,” Almquist said. “We just gave them too many opportunities.”

Saugus starting pitcher Taylor Deleidi pitched phenomenally and did exactly what Saugus needed her to do, Almquist said. Deleidi went the distance and allowed six runs (four earned), eight hits, five walks and one strikeout.

“It could have been, maybe, a 3-1 game if we made some plays,” Almquist said. “We did make a lot of nice plays but just not enough of them. One player in particular who had a stellar game was senior captain and shortstop Devany Millerick, who was all over the field recording seven putouts.”

Despite the loss, the Saugus coach was very pleased with the players’ effort, especially since this was the first game. “They hung tough all game and battled to the end,” Almquist said. “It’s a long season, and we will take the positives from this game and use them as building blocks while working to correct some of the negatives.

On offense the key contributors were: Millerick (1-for-3 with a double and RBI); senior Kaitlyn Pugh: (1-for-3 with run scored); junior captain Deleidi (1-for-2).

Saugus was scheduled to take on Danvers on April 19. “This is going to be another tough one but will be a good test for us and another opportunity to show improvement,” Almquist said.

Saugus athletes ready to sign for college

Saugus student-athletes will get their day in the sun signing their commitments to play sports at the next level. The event takes place at Saugus Middle School on Friday, April 12 and features:

• Jessica Bremberg, Saint Anselm College, Manchester, N.H., Women’s Track and Field
• Violet Hawley, Lasell University, Boston, Women’s Soccer
• Isaiah Rodriguez, University of Rochester, Rochester, N.Y., Football
• Tommy DeSimone, University of New England, Biddeford, Maine, Football
• Braden Faiella, Saint Anselm College, Manchester, N.H., Football