RallyNorth.net

LAWRENCE — A little extra batting practice in the last month has paid off nicely for Central Catholic junior Corrine Gosselin.

And an extra dose of hitting Friday did wonders for the entire Central Catholic team, which blasted Lowell 17-1 yesterday in a Division 1 North first-round game.

Methuen's softball team, which defeated Lowell twice in the regular season, built a 2-0 lead only to fall on an unearned run in the seventh in the preliminary round of the Division 1 North tournament. Becca Armstrong was 2 for 4 for the Rangers, who finish the season 11-10. 

Kayla Maloney and and Meg Donegan shut Lowell down only allowing 3 hits and striking out 11 combined as Central softball won 2-0. Brianna Martin stroked two hits and scored both of Central's runs. The Raiders improved to 20-1.

Two costly errors yielded six unearned runs and hurt Lawrence in a 17-8 loss to Lowell. Jerika Santiago played solid defense and got the Lancer offense going from the leadoff position with three runs scored, while Jocelyn Valerio had a two-run homer and an RBI single. Johanna Beltre also shined with several quality plays at third base.

Trailing 8-1 in the fifth, Methuen's softball team rallied for a dramatic 9-8 victory over Lowell. Rebecca Caterino paced the late offensive charge with two hits and two RBIs and scored the winning run in the bottom of the seventh on a Melissa Leach single. Paige Fleming started the seventh with a double and scored the tying run,  Courtney Bradley and Bryanna Giorgio both had two hits, and Chrissy Scionti got the win with two innings of scoreless relief.