RallyNorth.net

LYNN | Some losses are harder to take than others | and the 6-3 loss that the Danvers High softball team suffered at Lynn Classical Saturday in the Division 1 North playoffs was especially difficult for the visitors.

PEABODY | Robin Helas drove her black Nissan XTerra to Kiley Field yesterday to watch her daughter, freshman MaryKate Helas, play for the Peabody High softball team. MaryKate Helas then drove Peabody's biggest homer of the season over the fence in left field, smacking the family car.

Senior Kevin Skop tossed a complete game, two-hit shutout and fanned nine Bulldogs to pace Peabody (13-5) to a 2-0 win. The Tanners got all the offense they needed in the first inning with RBIs from James Noftle and Jared Shields. The middle infield defense of Gary Girolomo and Mark Finocchio, along with Skop's pitching, made the lead stand up.

Nicki Lemelin won the 100 (12.5) and ran a leg of the winning 4x100 relay to help spark the undefeated Panthers (6-0) over Lynn Classical 106-16. Joining Lelemin in the relay were Heidi Bezemes, Janelle Louis and Helen Amore. Also among the winners for Beverly were Maddy Wrable in the 400 (65.7) and Marianna DiMaggio in the 200 (26.5).

Beverly thrower Juan Moran won the shot put and the discus as the Panthers (4-2) got by the Rams 99-23. Ryan Flannery won the 400 (59.1), Windy Henry won the mile (5:52), Brendan DeCorcy won the high hurdles (18.3) and Tom Benton was first in the two-mile (12:01) to help Beverly to victory.

Murphy's Law was in full effect for the Gloucester softball team in yesterday's matchup with Lynn Classical.

Everything that could have gone wrong, did go wrong for the Fishermen.

Gloucester committed eight errors in the field, misplaying a number of routine fly balls and pop-ups.  The Fishermen also had their hot bats cooled off by Rams pitcher Jenny Garrity in a 15-3 loss at Burnham's field. The loss broke Gloucester's four-game winning streak, a streak in which they outscored their opponents 34-18.

Don't count the Gloucester baseball team out of the postseason quite yet.

The Fishermen continued their march back to .500 with an 8-5 victory over Lynn Classical in eight innings yesterday afternoon. Gloucester, which has struggled to play consistent ball throughout the season, has now won two straight games to raise its record to 5-6.

It was a two-way domination for the Peabody High baseball team yesterday.

The bats were booming for the Tanners in a 10-0 shutout over Lynn Classical. Peabody banged out 15 hits and broke the game open with a seven-run third inning.

Sophomore Andrea Saccardo secured wins in the low hurdles, triple jump and long jump to propel the unbeaten Tanners (2-0) to a dominant 112-15 win over Lynn Classical. Peabody also enjoyed a trio of double-winners in Pinky Ratanajit (100 and 200), Kristin Surman (shot put and discus) and Joanna Chanaj (high jump and 400)

At some point, you have to put the ball in the basket or you just won't win.

It's a season-long lesson that stung Andover High one final time last night as Lynn Classical downed the Golden Warriors in the Division 1 North tourney opener, 53-44.