Saugus softball team wins three of four to open season

  Turning the tables on last season’s 1-3 start, the Saugus High School softball team has come away victorious in three of its first four contests of 2023. After losing big at Danvers last Wednesday, the Sachems reeled off two straight wins.

  The most recent victory came on Monday, when Saugus braved chilly weather conditions and rolled to a 21-3 triumph at Waltham. Lily Ventre launched a two-run homer and Kaitlyn Pugh knocked out three hits and drove in five. Pitcher Taylor Deleidi hurled all five innings and struck out four hitters. The win left the Sachems at 3-1 overall heading into Wednesday’s battle at Swampscott.

  Moving forward, Saugus was on tap to host Gloucester on Friday and Pentucket Regional next Monday, April 24 (scheduled 4:30 p.m. start). Friday’s game will be the Sachems’ first home tilt of the spring, as the team was on the road for its opening five games.

  Last Friday at Winthrop, Saugus rebounded from the defeat at Danvers two days earlier by scoring in the double digits for a 13-5 victory. Deleidi was the complete-game winner with four strikeouts. But the offense was the bigger story. Devany Millerick socked three hits, including two doubles, and drove in three to lead the way in the hitting department. Danica Schena also contributed three hits and finished with two RBIs.

  Through their first four games, the Sachems had scored over 40 runs total, about 10 runs a game.

  The Saugus offense was held in check when the Sachems faced the yet-to-be-beaten Danvers Falcons at the Oak School Field in Danvers last Wednesday. Things did not get off on the right foot for the visitors, as the Falcons staged a big seven-run second inning to go up by an 8-0 margin after two innings. The contest ended up 14-2 in Danvers’ favor.

  Several of Danvers’ hits were more well-placed than of the hard-hit variety. Saugus hitters often made good contact off Danvers pitcher Makayla Cunningham, but several well-hit balls were caught.