RallyNorth.net

Fishermen softball team eliminated by Tanners

Monday, June, 02 By Nick Curcuru
Correspondent

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.

Peabody (17-4) smashed 12 hits and pitcher Nicole Wilson kept the Gloucester bats at bay en route to an 11-2 shellacking at Kiley Field.

"This was a tough way to end the season," Gloucester head coach Julie Ferguson said. "Peabody really came to play, but I'm proud of the way these girls fought until the end. They showed a lot of heart."

Peabody head coach Butch Melanphy said the Tanners had been waiting to see Gloucester (11-11) again ever since their defeat early in the regular season.

"We were fired up for this one," Melanphy said. "We have been waiting for (Gloucester) ever since they beat us. We know they are a tough team and that we had to play well to beat them and we did."

Peabody broke a one-run game wide open with five runs in the bottom of the fourth. Ahead 3-2 going into the inning, the Tanners ripped four hits and sent nine batters to the plate. Michelle Grifoni made it 6-2 when her bases-loaded double scored Sam Lerner, Tawny Palmeri and Sam Terenzoni. Mary-Kate Helas would single in Grifoni one batter later to make it 7-2. Helas capped off the scoring in the inning when she was singled in by Stephanie Fodeia.

The Tanners added three more runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to seal the victory.

Grifoni led the Tanners offense with three hits, five RBIs and four runs scored. Helas added four hits and two RBIs, and Terenzoni had two hits and three runs scored. The Tanners' threesome, who bat second, third and fourth in the batting order, went a combined 9 for 10 at the plate with eight RBIs and nine runs scored.

"It's always the top of the order getting it done for us," Melanphy said. "Those hitters are tough to get out and they showed just how dangerous they can be."

Wilson picked up the win for the Tanners, scattering seven hits and striking out nine.

"She throws really hard and we had a hard time catching up to her," Ferguson said of the sophomore right-hander. "She is a good pitcher and she is going to give teams trouble for the next couple of seasons."

Peabody got on the board early with a run in the top of the first inning when Grifoni came into score on an error after a Helas single. The Fishermen (11-11), however, bounced back with two runs in the top of the second when Ali Kippen (2-4) came in to score on a Nicole Whipple single. Lani Gannon gave the Fishermen their only lead of the game when she beat a throw home on a ground ball.

The Tanners took the lead right back in the bottom of the third on a Grifoni two-run homer, which plated Terenzoni, who doubled.

Despite the loss, Ferguson still believes the Fishermen had a successful season. They qualified for the state tournament and look to have a bright future, as they graduate only two seniors in Kippen and pitcher Jill Lukegord.

Gloucester also returns two Northeastern Conference All-Stars in second baseman Alysha Clayton and catcher Olivia Frontiero.

"We had a great season and it was a lot of fun," Ferguson said. "We have a lot of good players coming back next year but we are really going to miss our two seniors."