RallyNorth.net

PEABODY | The Gloucester softball team was hoping history would repeat itself in Saturday's Division 1 North first-round matchup against Peabody.

No. 19 Gloucester had previously beaten the third-seeded Tanners in the regular season and were hoping to send them home early in the postseason. But unfortunately for the Fishermen, the Tanners had other plans.

The Gloucester softball team may wish that every game was a must-win.

After knocking off Masconomet in the season finale to clinch a state-tournament berth, the No. 19 Fishermen were looking to make it 2-2 in win-or-go-home games when they faced off against No. 14 Somerville yesterday in the preliminary round of the Division 1 North Tournament.

The Gloucester softball team can finally breathe a sigh of relief.  

After seeing their record go from 8-3 to 9-10 after losing six straight games, the Fishermen put their state tournament hopes in serious jeopardy. They needed to beat Masconomet yesterday or their season would come to an end.

DANVERS | One team was dying for payback. The other team was looking to nail down a state tournament berth.

It made for magnificent drama and Danvers eventually received its payback Wednesday afternoon.

MARBLEHEAD | It was a great softball game.

That's all that Marblehead coach Johnny Gold could say after his team's 12-11 extra innings thriller over Gloucester yesterday and he could not have been more right.

The 2008 softball season was built for offense.

With the pitcher's mound moved from 40 to 43 feet, hitters can now tee off on opposing pitchers.

Despite the changes in the game being to their disadvantage, the pitching on Cape Ann has still been stellar. Gloucester, Rockport and Manchester Essex each have an ace pitcher they send to the mound every game in Jill Lukegord, Tia Nelson and Lindsey Cambridge, respectively. Collectively they have put up impressive pitching numbers in a sport all of a sudden dominated by offense.

The Gloucester softball team got just about everything they needed to win yesterday's matchup with Winthrop.

The Fishermen received a solid start from pitcher Jill Lukegord, good defense and a number of tough at-bats against one of the Northeastern Conference's top pitchers in Kristen Finn. Gloucester even entered the seventh inning with a one-run lead.

Gloucester (9-4) inched within one win of clinching a state tournament berth behind a strong effort from Jill Lukegord. Gloucester overpowered Lynn English 8-0.

The senior fired a shutout on the mound, striking out six and walking just one. She also added three hits at the plate, including two doubles.

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.

The 2008 Gloucester softball team has undoubtedly been lead by its offense.

The Fishermen have averaged close to nine runs per game, and are running opposing outfielders ragged with constant shots deep in the outfield.