SHS Sachems Spring Sports Roundup

Young Sachems show bright future despite tournament exits

By Dom Nicastro

The final scores did not go the way Saugus hoped, but when the dust settled on the spring season, there was still plenty to celebrate.

Softball extended its remarkable streak of tournament appearances to 10 consecutive seasons despite fielding one of the youngest rosters in program history. Both lacrosse programs reached the state tournament, with the boys qualifying for the postseason for the first time in more than a decade.

Softball’s postseason run ends, but future remains bright

Saugus softball’s season came to an end in the Division 3 state tournament with an 11-0 loss to Greater Lowell Tech, but head coach Steve Almquist made it clear the final score did not define the season.

“I could not have been any happier with how the season went,” Almquist said.

The Sachems finished 10-11 and reached the tournament despite entering the season with one of the youngest rosters Almquist has coached.

“We lost a ton of talent from last year’s team which posted 12 wins, so going into this season I wasn’t sure if we would even win three games let alone 10,” he said.

Against Greater Lowell Tech, Saugus battled early.

Angie Dow collected a second-inning bunt single, one of four hits the Sachems managed on the day. Alannah Duong, Sofia McCarrier and senior captain Maria Silva also recorded hits.

Silva’s hit proved especially meaningful.

In the top of the seventh inning, she lined a single to right-center field in what became the final at-bat of her high school career.

“What a memory and a fitting way to cap off a great high school career,” Almquist said. “The kids were so pumped for her when she got that hit.”

McCarrier absorbed the loss but pitched better than the final score indicated. The freshman worked six innings, allowing 11 runs, though only three were earned.

Almquist pointed to a rough third inning in which Greater Lowell Tech scored seven runs, six of them after a missed double-play opportunity extended the frame.

“In these tournament games, especially against better competition, you need to pretty much play a clean game,” Almquist said.

Still, the coach remained focused on the bigger picture.

“I don’t think people realize how difficult it is to qualify for the State Tournament, especially playing in one of the tougher conferences in the area,” he said. “To do it 10 years in a row is really something special.”

With McCarrier, eighth graders Jenna O’Donnell, Hannah Strout and Aubrey Demonte, along with numerous other underclassmen returning, the future appears promising.

“I’m hoping the experience gained from this season and having that year under their belt will pay dividends for our underclassmen,” Almquist said.

Boys lacrosse reaches playoffs for first time in more than a decade

The Saugus boys lacrosse team may have seen its season end with a 20-2 preliminary-round loss to St. Mary’s, but first-year head coach Clint Arsenault believes the program took a major step forward.

The Sachems finished 8-8 and reached the state tournament for the first time in more than 10 years.

“It was the first time that the Saugus lacrosse boys have made it to the playoffs in over a decade,” Arsenault said. “I have to give the boys a lot of credit for how hard they worked.”

The season was built on perseverance.

Despite often playing with little or no bench, Saugus battled through adversity and steadily improved throughout the spring.

“The boys never gave up and always gave it all they had,” Arsenault said.

Leading scorer Gavin Diozzi, an eighth grader, emerged as one of the team’s top offensive threats. Fellow eighth grader Zack Modini also played a major role, while senior Hunter Arsenault finished among the team’s leading scorers.

Arsenault also praised sophomores James Caruso and John Morello, along with eighth graders Diozzi, Modini, Billy Lauziere and Lukkas Sullivan, as key building blocks for the future.

The coach reserved special praise for graduating seniors Hunter Arsenault, Larry Barrows and Koby Jette.

“Our three graduating seniors were great contributors to the season and will be missed next year,” he said.

With assistant coaches JP Walsh, Sean Fox and Brandon Allen helping guide the program, Arsenault believes the future is bright.

“The future of Saugus lacrosse is looking good,” he said.

Girls lacrosse builds momentum, earns postseason berth

The Saugus girls lacrosse team also reached the Division 3 tournament before falling to Essex North Shore, 17-8, in the preliminary round.

The Sachems finished with a winning record at 10-9 and continued to establish themselves as one of the stronger programs in the area.

Head coach Amanda Jacquier said the season was defined by growth.

“This group of girls showed tremendous growth, determination and resilience throughout the year,” Jacquier said.

One of the turning points came early.

After opening the season with a heartbreaking 4-3 loss to Winthrop, the Sachems responded by defeating the Vikings 11-5 in the rematch.

“That was when the team truly began to recognize its potential and what it was capable of accomplishing together,” Jacquier said.

Offensively, Aly Mabee, Teaghan Arsenault, Mara Faiella, Niki Breton, Maria Garcia and Natalie Justice paced the attack throughout the season.

Defensively, Brooke Diaz, Amanda Rezendes, Paige Millea and Sydney Ferreira played key roles helping protect the cage and create stops.

The postseason honors reflected that success.

Mabee earned All-Conference recognition, while Diaz and Garcia were named league All-Stars.

“I am incredibly proud of everything this team accomplished representing Saugus girls lacrosse,” Jacquier said. “I cannot wait to see what the future holds for this program.”