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Norman's two homers power Marblehead past Beverly

Tuesday, May, 06 By Jean DePlacido
Correspondent

Samantha Norman had never played third base at the varsity level before. But with her teammate, Northeastern Conference all-star Ashley White, out sick yesterday, Marblehead High softball coach Johnny Gold called on Norman, his junior left fielder, to take her place.

Norman not only got the job done in the infield, but also had a career day at the plate as well. She blasted a pair of home runs as the host Magicians doubled up conference rival Beverly, 8-4.

Marblehead trailed by a run in the third inning when Norman crushed an Elise Perron offering over the center field fence to tie the game.

The next time she came up, Norman put her team on top for good with a two-run shot over the fence in left-center, scoring Katie Fallon ahead of her.

"Slamming Sammie did a great job," said Gold. "Being without White meant we had to change things around; Sam made every play (at third) and had those two big blasts. Stephanie Lyons made her varsity debut in left, too, and did a terrific job. Those two girls really helped us."

Marblehead (6-3) batted around in the fifth inning, breaking a 4-4 tie with four runs off of Perron, Beverly's starting pitcher, who eventually gave way to Kristen Lojko.

Marblehead ace Courtney Colantuno gave up three runs in the first inning, but settled down thereafter to earn the complete game win. She gave up six hits total with one walk and finished with four strikeouts.

 The Panthers had runners on base in every inning but the sixth, when Colantuno set the side down in order. Her job was made more difficult because of four errors in the field, but she was able to pitch her way out of jams and twice left a Beverly runner stranded on third base.

"We were a little sloppy defensively," said Gold. "Colantuno did a great job on the mound, but Beverly made her work hard every inning. They're an aggressive team, bunting and slashing, and we didn't help her out much with those errors. Beverly is tough, and Megan (Sudak) is a good coach who's doing a good job with those girls."

The Panthers (2-7), whose four runs were all unearned, jumped out in the top of the first with three runs on a walk, error and hits by Beth Cullen (2 hits) and Christy Nichols. Marblehead answered with two in the home half of the first on back-to-back doubles by Lizzy Whitehill and Colantuno. With two down Perron walked three in a row to force in a run before getting Silvie Cohen to ground out to escape further damage.

"We started off strong and hit the ball hard, but Marblehead is such a great hitting team," said Sudak, Beverly's first-year head coach. "They were able to capitalize on some things, and we didn't take advantage of their miscues."

The Magicians pounded out 10 hits in all, led by Norman, Colantuno and Whitehill with two apiece while Mandy James, Fallon, Hannah Pelkey and Cohen each had one. Norman drove in three runs, Whitehill two, and Colantuno, Pelkey and Cohen one each.

James tripled over the centerfielder's head with two down in the fourth, and Whitehill lined a run producing shot that neither Perron or shortstop Kiki McKenna could get.

Lojko shut down the Magicians in 2<2/3> innings of relief, striking out three and not allowing any hits.