State tournament the goal for Pioneers

Published in the April 18, 2018 edition

By STEPHEN MARTELLUCCI

LYNNFIELD — Last season, the Lynnfield High softball team went 7-11 overall, 5-11 in the Cape Ann League and 2-8 in the CAL Kinney division to finish in sixth place.

Two seniors graduated from that team as eighth-year head coach Peter Marinelli returned seven seniors when practice started last month.

The captain this season is pitcher Hayley O’Brien and she is the lone senior back.

Allie Wing (catcher) and Taylor Tringali (second base) are the two juniors back.

The four tenth-graders returning are Brieanna Serabian (utility), Samantha Lebruska (utility), Jenna Freni (outfielder) and Mia Daly (outfielder).

After four games, the Pioneers have gotten off to a solid start.

THE LHS softball team will count on senior captain Hayley O’Brien to lead the team in 2018. (Villager File Photo)

Last Friday, they improved to 3-1 overall and 2-1 in the CAL with a 12-3 home win over Hamilton-Wenham. Lynnfield was supposed to be away but the field at Hamilton-Wenham was unplayable so it was moved to LHS and the Pioneers played as the visiting team.

O’Brien was the star of this game as she improved to 3-1 striking out 15 General hitters. None of the runs she allowed were earned as she gave up just two hits and two walks.

“She was outstading,” stated Marinelli. “She is a great leader for us.”

The Lynnfield offense pounded out 12 hits. Serabian was 3-for-5 with two runs batted in while freshman Chloe Shapleigh was 3-for-4 with one RBI.

Wing and freshman Reilly Ganter both went 2-for-4. Ganter knocked in three runs while Wing had one RBI.

Crush Rockport

On April 11, the Pioneers beat guest Rockport, 11-5. O’Brien fanned 13 as she gave up eight hits, and two walks. Only two of the runs were earned.

Serabian led the offense, going a perfect 3-for-3 with one RBI as Lynnfield had eight hits. Wing also added a two-run single.

Fall to Triton

On April 9, the Pioneers lost to visiting Triton, 9-4.

“We led, 4-3, heading into the sixth inning,” recalled Marinelli. “We then had a tough sixth inning allowing six runs.”

O’Brien, who suffered her first pitching loss, had two RBI with a triple and a fielder’s choice.

Mercy rule East Boston

In the season opener on April 5, the Pioneers won at non-league East Boston, 16-3, in a five-inning mercy-rule game. The Pioneers had 15 hits led by Shapleigh as she went 3-for-4 in her varsity debut. O’Brien was a perfect 2-for-2 with five RBI’s as she had two homers. She walked the two other times at bat.

Freshman Jillian Babine was 3-for-4 with three RBI’s.

Lynnfield will play an 18-game regular season.

“Our goal is to make the (Division 3) state tournament this year,” said Marinelli. “We have a very young team this season.”

Marinelli feels that North Reading and Pentucket are the teams to beat in the CAL Kinney division this spring.

On Wednesday morning at 10 a.m., the Pioneers host Newburyport. They then visit Pentucket on Friday morning at 10 a.m. Next Monday afternoon, at 3:45 p.m. they host Masconomet.