RallyNorth.net

Wed, Apr 16, 2008 04:00 PM @ Marblehead

Team	Final
Danvers	10
Marblehead	5

Burnham's two home runs power Falcons over Marblehead

Wednesday, April, 16 By Jean DePlacido
Correspondent

MARBLEHEAD | A classic battle between last year's Northeastern Conference softball Pitcher of the Year, Courtney Colantuno of Marblehead, and the NEC's Player of the Year, Ashley Burnham of Danvers, turned out to be a gem yesterday afternoon.

But it didn't take long for Burnham, her team's leadoff hitter, to set the tone for the day with a home run over the centerfield fence in the top of the first inning.

She wasn't done, either. Burnham later blasted a two-run homer to help power the visiting Falcons to a 10-5 win over the Magicians.

Burnham, who will play Division 1 college softball at James Madison University next year, was outstanding both at the plate (she added a sacrifice fly, knocking in four runs total) and also in the field, handling every chance that came her way at shortstop.

"She took a great hack on that first home run and got us going right away," said Danvers coach Tara Petrocelli, her team now 2-0 in the NEC and 2-1 overall.

"What a battle: Colantuno is a great pitcher, and Burnham a great hitter. I'm proud of how my kids played today. Marblehead battled back, but our kids know it's our job to score runs. We hit the ball hard."

The home runs were the first two that Burnham has hit this season.

"We've developed a tight rivalry with Marblehead, and they're a pretty good team. So this was a nice win for us," said Burnham.

"I was just looking for a pitch to drive. Courtney is a good pitcher, but I was able to get ahold of one."

The Magicians rallied in the bottom of the first to take a 3-1 lead. Ashley White and Colantuno hit back-to-back singles to left to set the stage for Kate Fallon, who ripped a two-run triple to center. Fallon went 3-for-4 with three RBI off Danvers pitcher Diana Bean.

Marblehead's Samantha Norman then followed with an RBI double as the hosts sent eight batters to the plate in the inning.

The lead was short-lived, though, as the Falcons used small ball in the second inning to score five times.

Jill Carroll led off with a walk before Bean, Emily Smith and Justine Pratt all bunted safely. The only ball hit out of the infield was a two-run double by Joanna Zecha, who took third on the throw to the plate and came home on a sacrifice fly by Burnham.

Marblehead (1-2) battled all the way, adding a run in the bottom of the second on Colantuno's RBI single to close the gap to 6-4.

Both pitchers settled down in the middle innings. Colantuno retired eight in a row before Zecha singled to start the fifth, and the Falcons tacked on two more runs when Burnham blasted a shot over the left field fence.

"Danvers is a very good team and well coached. Tara does a nice job with them," said Marblehead coach Johnny Gold. "We hit for a while and then it seemed they were right at people."

Bean had flawless fielding behind her and settled down to throw four scoreless innings until Fallon's solo homer with two outs in the seventh. In all, she gave up nine hits and two walks while striking out two.

For the day there were four homers, three by the Falcons. Caraline Moholland took Colantuno deep for a two-run shot in the top of the seventh.

"Danvers hit the ball really well," said Colantuno, who was named the winner of the prestigious Salem News Student-Athlete Award earlier this month. "We tried to come back, but just weren't getting the hits.

"It's a tough way to start off with that homer by Ashley. We're friends, and I know what she can do. I tried to throw her low and outside. We'll face them again and see what happens."