Published June 12, 2019

By STEPHEN MARTELLUCCI

BOSTON — On Sunday afternoon, the Lynnfield High softball team blanked host Madison Park 15-1 in a five-inning mercy rule game in the first round of the Division 3 North state tournament.

With that win, the 13th-seeded Pioneers improved to 13-7 while the fourth-seeded Cardinals ended up at 11-4.

The Pioneers came out on fire as they plated 10 runs in the top of the first inning.

Reilly Ganter was the winning pitcher going all five frames to improve to 12-7 in the circle. She gave up only one hit, one walk and she struck out ten. The run allowed was unearned.

She also had huge game at bat going 4 for 5.

Chloe Shapleigh, Breanna Serabian and Jillian Babine led the Pioneer attack with three hits each. Sam Lebruska and Jenna Brodigan both had two hits.

JILLIAN BABINE collected a combined five hits during Lynnfield first two playoff victories of 2019. The Pioneers played Ipswich in the quarterfinals on Tuesday after press time. The winner will meet Austin Prep in the semifinals on Thursday, 3:30 p.m. at Martin Field in Lowell. (Dan Pawlowski File Photo)

Lynnfield finished with 22 hits overall.

“We knew that they were a weaker team but we did what we had to do early on,” said Pioneers manager Peter Marinelli.

Blank St. Joseph’s Prep

In the preliminary round game last Friday afternoon, the Pioneers blanked another Boston city team, St. Joseph’s Prep, 12-0, at home. St. Joseph’s Prep is in Brighton.

This game was also a five-inning mercy-rule game.

Just like in the Madison Park victory, the Pioneers started strong plating nine runs in the bottom of the first inning against the overmatched Phoenix.

“We didn’t know what to expect from them,” admitted Marinelli. “We got off to a strong first inning in that game as well.”

Ganter was the winning pitcher in this game as well going all five innings. She gave up four hits, two walks and she fanned five.

Taylor Tringale led the Lynnfield offense going a perfect 3 for 3.The senior had one RBI and she also scored twice.

Babine went 2 for 3 as the dish with one RBI while Serabian was 2 for 4 with two runs scored.

Sadie Gearan added a two-run double in the first inning while Labruska had a two-run single also in the first.

Allie Wing, who was also 2 for 4, had a two-run triple in the first.

The Pioneers hosted Ipswich on June 11 in the quarterfinal round (results not available at press time). If they won that game they would face top-seeded Austin Prep on Thursday, June 13 at Martin Park in Lowell at 3:30 p.m.