Published June 19, 2019

By STEPHEN MARTELLUCCI

LOWELL — The postseason run for the Lynnfield High softball team came to an end last Friday night as the Pioneers lost 7-4 to Austin Prep in the Division 3 North semifinals on a windy afternoon at Martin Park in Lowell.

With that defeat, the 13th-seeded Pioneers ended the year at 14-8. The top-seeded Cougars, meanwhile, beat St. Mary’s of Lynn 2-1 on Saturday in the North final to improve to 22-2 and they played Case in the state semifinals on Tuesday night (results not available at press time).

“They are a good team and they took advantage of our mistakes,” said Pioneers’ manager Peter Marinelli, whose team committed five errors. “We had some first-time jitters heading into this game.”

The Pioneers scored first in the top of the first inning as Breanna Serabian led off with a triple and scored on a sacrifice fly by Allie Wing.

The Cougars responded with two runs in the bottom of the first. Brianna Meroli had an RBI single to score Alex Santostefano, who doubled. Melina Fedele then had an RBI double to plate Meroli.

CAPTAIN Allie Wing had another great season for the LHS softball team. The senior followed up a 3-for-4 day at the plate during the Pioneers’ win over Ipswich in the quarterfinals with two RBI’s against Austin Prep in the semifinals. (Dan Pawlowski File Photo)

In the bottom of the third, the Cougars scored three times. Sablone (single) and Santostefano (walk) both reached base. Sablone then scored on an error at shortstop. Fedele then had a two-run single to make it 5-1.

Lynnfield scored in the top of the third to cut the lead to three as Reilly Ganter had a sacrifice fly to score Sam Lebruska (2 for 3) who led off with a single.

However, the Cougars scored once in the bottom of the fourth as Fedele walked with the bases loaded.

The Pioneers cut the lead to 6-3 in the top of the fifth. Serabian (2 for 4) tripled again and scored on a groundout by Wing.

Austin Prep then made the lead four again in the bottom of the fifth on a two-out RBI double by Sablone although she was thrown out at third to end the inning.

In the top of the seventh, Lynnfield scored once as Wing singled and scored on an RBI base hit by Sarah Gearan. The Pioneers then had the bases loaded when pitcher Serena Gilbride got the final out on a ground out to second base.

Gilbride (20-3) went all seven innings allowing four runs, ten hits, two walks and she struck out four.

Ganter was the losing pitcher going six innings to finish at 13-8. The sophomore gave up four earned runs, eight hits, five walks and she struck out none.

“They have a good, young, talented team,” said Cougars’ manager Frank Sorrenti. “I have a lot of respect for them.”

REILLY GANTER got both starts for Lynnfield against Ipswich and Austin Prep and stayed in each game all the way until the end. (Dan Pawlowski File Photo)

Sixth-inning comeback beats Tigers in quarterfinals

In a wild game in the quarterfinal round, the Pioneers edged visiting Ipswich 12-11 on May 11.

In the bottom of the sixth inning, the Pioneers trailed 11-8 but were able to rally for four runs. They then shut down the Tigers in the top of the seventh.

In the sixth, Jenna Brodigan reached on an error at short. Jacquline Carbone singled and Serabian had a sacrifice fly to make the score, 11-9. Wing reached on an error and Chloe Shapleigh had an RBI single to cut the Tiger lead to one.

After Ganter grounded out, Jill Babine delivered a two-run single to center field to give Lynnfield the lead.

It looked like it was going to be a blowout early as Lynnfield scored three times in the first and second innings. However, aided by three errors, the Tigers were able to score eight runs to lead by two.

Lynnfield scored once in the bottom of the third on a sacrifice fly by Shapleigh to make it 8-7.

Ipswich then scored twice more in the top of the fourth as Lynnfield committed another error.

The Pioneers then scored once in the bottom of the fourth to cut the lead to 10-8 but the Tigers scored once more in the top of the fifth to go up 11-8.

Ganter was the winning pitcher going all seven innings. She gave up three earned runs, 11 hits, two walks and she fanned four.

Lynnfield finished with 16 hits. Ganter, Wing and Shapleigh all were 3 for 4 at the dish, Ganter knocked in three runs while Shapleigh had a team-high four RBI’s.

Babine went 3 for 5 with two RBI’s while Serabian was 2 for 4.

“We got complacent,” admitted Marinelli, after his team took the 6-0 lead. “We started to throw the ball around and it showed some of our weaknesses. I was happy that we didn’t quit and were able to come back in that sixth inning.”

In the regular season, Lynnfield blanked Ipswich 12-0.

With that loss, the 21st seeded Tigers ended the year at 11-10.