RallyNorth.net

NORTH ANDOVER — The bottom line is that the Central Catholic girls at least walked off the field a winner. It just took an extra hour or so than expected. "It was a long day," said Raider coach Stacey Ciccolo, who watched her team kick away a 5-0 lead in the seventh, only to knock off St. Peter-Marian, 6-5. "It just seemed like a nightmare." Central got the offense going early to build the lead. And the Raiders, now 7-1, were cruising defensively behind mound ace, Meg Donegan. But things disintegrated in the seventh. Donegan returned to shackle St. Peter in extras, but it took until the 10th for Central to finally strike the knockout blow. Alex Borrelli reached on an error in the bottom half of the frame and Brianna Martin finished the job, chasing the winning run home with her second double of the game. Martin finished with three hits, and Donegan delivered two doubles and single. Borrelli was sharp in the nine-spot, roping a pair of hits and scoring three runs.

Central Catholic played long ball in a 3-0 victory over host St. Peter Marian. Leadoff hitter Brianna Martin had two doubles and a triple, driving in a run, and Brittney Hall added an RBI double as part of a two-hit effort. Meg Donegan threw a gem for the Raiders, allowing just one hit leading off the seventh inning and striking out 11.