RallyNorth.net

See video interviews and highlights from Central Catholic softball's Division 1 North final matchup with Acton-Boxboro.

LOWELL — Central Catholic had every reason to feel optimistic.

The Raiders’ first batter of the game, star Brianna Martin, blasted a line drive to deep left field, cruising into third with a triple.

LOWELL — It became obvious early in last night’s Division 1 North semifinal that Meg Donegan would throw strikes for as long as Central Catholic needed. Brianna Martin, however, ensured her teammate didn’t need to work overtime. The Raider lead-off hitter smacked a two-run double with two outs in the top of the seventh and Donegan completely dominated top-seeded Chelmsford as fifth-seeded Central walked away with a 2-0 victory at Martin Field. Central (18-3) returns to the same field to play seventh-seeded Acton-Boxboro (18-5) today at 3:30. Chelmsford had beaten Central twice in the regular season and the Raiders’ other loss came vs. A-B. “We’ve been in the (North) semis each time since 2007 and only got past it one time (when the Raiders lost the 2008 Division 2 state semifinals),” Central coach Stacy Ciccolo said. “We think we have a special team, and we’re going to make a go of it. And I think the kids are hungry and don’t want to stop playing softball yet.” The only serious trouble Donegan faced was after a one-out double in the second, but the senior struck out the next two batters to erase the threat. It was the only time she allowed a runner past first. “(Chelmsford’s) always been a great hitting team,” said Donegan who was out with the flu the first Chelmsford game and lost the second 2-1. “I was just working the corners and trying to keep them off balance.” Raising her record to 15-2, Donegan put up some special numbers while posting nine strikeouts and allowing three hits against a team that was averaging 8.7 runs per game. Not only didn’t she walk a batter, she never had a three-ball count and only four times threw as many as two balls to a hitter. She struck out five in a row in one stretch and needed only 76 pitches, 54 of which went for strikes. “She’s been outstanding for us all year,” Ciccolo said. “She was a little fired up tonight. I could tell she was prepared mentally to go ... She carries the workload for us, and we kind of knew she would do whatever it took to stay in this game.” But all that work would have gone for naught, had Martin not delivered the crucial hit in the seventh. Pinch-hitter Leslie Moore started the rally with a one-out single before a fielder’s choice by Nicole Howe and Alex Borrelli’s second hit of the game left runners on first and second. Martin, averaging a team-leading .549, lashed the first offering she saw from Megan Rich into the left-field corner to drive in both. “I was very nervous,” Martin said. “But I just tried to stay calm. My dad (North Andover coach Brian Martin) always says know when you have the bat that you’re the best hitter, no matter what. And that’s what I thought when I went up there ... I was just looking to hit it hard I didn’t care where it went as long as I hit it hard.” In addition, center-fielder Martin made a nice running catch to right center to end the sixth. Donegan also got a help from shortstop Borrelli, who went up the middle for a grounder and started an inning-ending double play in the fourth. Central Catholic 2, Chelmsford 0 Division 1 North Semifinal Central Catholic (2): Brianna Martin cf 4-0-1, Britt Hall 2b 3-0-1, Meg Donegan p 2-0-1, Abbie King cr 0-0-0, Corrine Gosselin 1b 3-0-0, Kelly Michal c 3-0-0, Karissa Forzese 3b 3-0-0, Alexa Economou dp 2-0-0, Leslie Moore lf 1-0-1, Nicole Howe lf 3-1-0, Alex Borrelli ss 3-1-2. Totals 27-2-6 Chelmsford (0): Abby Johnson ss 3-0-0, Meghan McNamara lf 3-0-0, Alex Burgess cf 3-0-1, Rachel Couto 3b 3-0-1, Alison Couch c 3-0-1, Emily Lomis cr 0-0-0, Clancy Taylor 2b 2-0-0, Janelle Levesque dp 2-0-0, Dee Hayden 1b 2-0-0, Jen Janiak lf 2-0-0, Megan Rick p 0-0-0. Totals 23-0-3 RBI: Martin 2 WP: Donegan 15-2; LP: Rich 12-2 Next game: Today vs. Acton-Boxboro, 3:30 p.m., Martin Field in Lowell, Division 1 North final Chelmsford (21-2):    0 0 0 0 0 0 0 — 0 Central Catholic (18-3):    0 0 0 0 0 0 2 — 2

Dazzling Donegan Meg Donegan’s night: Runs: 0 Strikeouts: 9 Walks: 0 Hits: 3 Pitches: 76 Strikes: 54 3-ball counts: 0

Kelly Michal had an RBI single and a two-run double to get Central Catholic off to a quick start, and pitcher Meg Donegan (nine strikeouts) battled out of several jams late to earn the Raiders a rewarding 4-3 victory over Concord-Carlisle. Central advances to the Division 1 North semifinals.

LAWRENCE — A steady drizzle, cool temperatures and a wet field were no problem for Central Catholic seniors Brianna Martin and Meg Donegan yesterday afternoon.

Martin started the Central scoring with a solo home run in the third and was 2 for 3 on the day with two RBIs and two runs scored and Donegan struck out 14 batters while scattering five hits in a 6-1 Raider victory.

LAWRENCE — A steady drizzle, cool temperatures and a wet field were no problem for Central Catholic seniors Brianna Martin and Meg Donegan yesterday afternoon.

Martin started the Central scoring with a solo home run in the third and was 2 for 3 on the day with two RBIs and two runs scored and Donegan struck out 14 batters while scattering five hits in a 6-1 Raider victory.

Central Catholic erupted for seven runs in the final two innings, running away for a 9-1 victory that ended Concord-Carlisle's 14-game winning streak.

Nicole Howe drove in runs with a single in the fourth inning and a double in the sixth. Brianna Martin's second double of the day scored a pair in the sixth, and sophomore Leslie Moore delivered the clinching blow — a three-run homer in the seventh, for Central's fifth straight victory.

Central Catholic leadoff batter Brianna Martin led off the first inning with a home run, added another solo shot in the third and scored three times in the Raiders' 9-1 win over Tewksbury. Corrine Gosselin had a two-run double in the third and four RBIs overall for the Raiders (12-2) and Nicole Howe had two hits and three RBIs.

 Central Catholic's bats came alive as the Raiders (10-2) qualified for the tournament by taking apart Lawrence 17-2 in five innings. Alex Borrelli (3 for 3) slugged two home runs, Corrinne Gosselin had a grand slam and Brianna Martin was 3 for 4 with three runs scored and two RBIs.

Central Catholic's softball team enjoyed its best game at the plate all year, banging out 17 hits in a 12-2 victory over Tewksbury. Brianna Martin was 3 for 5 with three runs scored and two RBIs for the Raiders (9-2) and Alex Borrelli had a home run.