Softball Archives 2004

LYNN -- The Classical High softball team jumped right into the fire Saturday with a Division 1 North matchup against Acton-Boxborough at Breed's Grace Rogato Field.

The Rams and Colonials had identical 13-7 records, but in the end the Dual County League's reputation for turning out teams you'd rather not encounter in the first round, or any round if possible, remained intact. Acton-Boxborough won the game, 5-0, to advance to the quarterfinals against Methuen.

Although Classical had runners on base in every inning except the seventh, the Rams couldn't string anything together against Colonials pitcher Erin Fry. Fry walked four and another runner reached on an error, but the freshman only allowed two hits and neither came back to haunt her.

Classical's best scoring opportunity came in the fourth inning when Kristen Dean singled to left field and catcher Sam Barker hit a shot that looked like it was heading for the fence. Acton-Boxborough centerfielder Devon Agule made a beautiful running catch to help preserve her team's 2-0 lead.

"That's a good 13-7 team," Classical coach Chris Warren said. "We definitely had opportunities, but the thing that hurt us the most was we kept chasing high pitches. I think that was the difference in the game, chasing balls out of the strike zone."

Acton-Boxborough finished second behind Concord-Carlisle in the Dual County League, which sent six of its nine teams to the state tournament. Last year, the Colonials lost to Lowell in the North semifinals.

"Lynn Classical did a great job," Colonials coach Samantha Phillips said. "They made us earn it. There were very few innings where they didn't have runners on base."

Acton-Boxborough scored two runs in the second inning. Lauren Murphy led the inning off with a triple and ended up scoring on an illegal pitch. Classical centerfielder Savanna Clemens gunned down a runner at the plate a few batters later, but the Colonials did manage to put one more on the board on an RBI single before the inning ended.

Acton-Boxborough put two runners on in the third inning after Classical pitcher Melissa McLaughlin fanned the first two, but the threat ended on a fly ball to Clemens. The Colonials threatened again in the fourth, loading the bases with no outs, but McLaughlin got the next three batters to pop out to keep the game in reach.

Things went downhill for the Rams in the fifth inning when the Colonials scored two more runs on a walk and two singles. The final blow came in the top of the seventh when Rachel Schwartz led off with a single and ended up scoring on a hit by Adrianna Faria.

LYNN -- There's just something about the John Holland Memorial Softball Tournament that brings out the best in the Classical and St. Mary's softball teams. Last year, the two played an epic semifinal that lasted 12 innings and nearly three hours before the Spartans prevailed, 3-2.

On Sunday at Grace Rogato Field, the two were at it again. Only this time, it was the Rams who came out victorious as Savanna Clemens scored on an error in the bottom of the eighth inning, giving Classical a 3-2 win in the 2007 renewal of the Holland final.

"We are pretty evenly matched as teams and I knew that they would keep coming back," Classical coach Chris Warren said. "These guys are fighters and they have been all year."

The Rams (13-7) might owe a lot of their success over the weekend to the top two batters in their lineup, Clemens and Courtney Sullivan.

If there was a tournament MVP named, Clemens might have been in line for it, going 4-for-7 with three runs scored while also throwing out the lead run for St. Mary's in the second inning. Sullivan, meanwhile, caused just as much havoc by going 3-for-6 with three runs scored.

"I've said it before, our one and two hitters really cause a lot of trouble for teams," Warren said.

For the Spartans (11-9), it was a day of missed chances. St. Mary's had one runner thrown out at the plate and another gunned down straying too far off second in the third inning.

"We had some good opportunities," St. Mary's coach Colleen Newbury said. "Savanna threw a kid out at the plate and Kristen (Mondello) got caught coming around second early."

Spartan hurler Lesley Zaya and Classical's Melissa McLaughlin, who received the Ginny Dandreo Award as the most outstanding pitcher, matched zeroes for the first three innings. Then in the fourth, the heart of Classical's lineup broke through.

Sullivan led off with a single before Afton Dean belted a double up the gap in left, putting runners on second and third. After a Kristen Dean strikeout, catcher Sam Barker ripped a single to right, plating both runners to give Classical a 2-0 lead.

And with McLaughlin breezing, having retired nine straight batters in the fourth through sixth innings, it looked like the Rams had this one locked up. No one told that to St. Mary's, though, as it made a late charge.

Michelle McDermott led off the seventh with a single and then moved to third on Erin McAndrews' one-out double to center. A throwing error allowed McDermott to score on Marisa McKinnon's grounder and moved pinch runner Katelynn Fanning to third with the tying run.

McLaughlin whiffed Caitlin Townsend and had the Spartans down to their final strike when Stephanie Vasquez dumped a single to left to tie the game at 2-2 and force extra innings.

St. Mary's went down in order to start the eighth. In the bottom of the inning, Clemens started things with a bunt single and then moved to third on a Sullivan sacrifice. Afton Dean was walked, but freshman Kristen Dean's bullet to short went through the wickets of Mondello, scoring Clemens with the winning run.

"We took a chance by walking Afton and it didn't pay off," Newbury said. "This was a great game."

The tournament committee awarded one player from each team a scholarship. Lauren Kolodziej was Classical's choice.

The Classical softball team spared its fans a nerve-wracking Memorial Day weekend by defeating Revere, 12-1, Monday to qualify for the state tournament.

The Rams, who had to beat Gloucester in their final game of the regular season to make the cut last year, hit the magical 10-win mark with a few days to spare this year. Two years ago, Classical (10-6) went into the John Holland tournament over Memorial Day still needing a win and three years ago, the Rams desperately needed a win in the Holland and didn't get it.

"It'll be a different feeling (going into the Holland not needing a win), " Classical coach Chris Warren said. "The girls are happy."

Melissa McLaughlin went the first two innings and Jenny Garrity pitched the next five. Classical scored six runs in the first inning and four in the third.

Kristen Dean, who has been out of the lineup for six games due to pneumonia, make her return memorable by going 3-for-5 with three RBI. Afton Dean had a hit and scored three runs; Courtney King had two hits and an RBI and Amanda Stevens had a hit and two RBI. Erin McCall and Tori Beliveau had a hit each.

McLaughlin didn't allow a hit and walked two before leaving the game. Garrity surrendered three this, three walks and struck out two in five innings.

Classical's Afton Dean drove in one run and scored another in the Rams' 5-3 win over Swampscott. (ITEM FILE PHOTO)

LYNN -- After losing back-to-back one-run games in dramatic fashion, the Classical softball team was in desperate need of something positive to help turn things around.

Well, on Monday at Grace Rogato Field, the Rams picked a fine time to play arguably their best game of the season. Classical got to Swampscott starter Carissa Roche to the tune of four runs in the first two innings and then used solid pitching and defense to grab a much-needed 5-3 win over the Big Blue.

"That might be the best game we've played all year," Classical coach Chris Warren said. "This is a good win after last week. They rebounded very well and did what they needed to."

The top of the Rams' lineup was mainly responsible for most of the damage.

Leadoff hitter Savanna Clemens, who came into the day third in the Northeastern Conference with a .488 average, was 3-for-3 with an RBI while No. 2 hitter Courtney Sullivan was 1-for-3, along with Afton Dean, who drove in a run and also scored once.

"Our one and two hitters set the tone in every game. They can cause havoc," Warren said. "Savanna had an outstanding game. She really sets the table for us."

Classical (8-6, 6-5 NEC North) got things started quickly as Clemens and Sullivan each slapped singles opening the bottom of the first. After a Dean fielder's choice retired Clemens, Roche uncorked a wild pitch to put runners on second and third.

Catcher Sam Barker brought the game's initial run home with a grounder to second that plated Sullivan. Ashley Laramie walked and Courtney King blooped a single over Mallorie McGrath's head at second, bringing Dean in for a 2-0 lead. Left fielder Amanda Stevens upped the gap to 3-0 with a base hit that plated Laramie from second.

"That first inning was brutal and I think that's what killed us," Swampscott coach Annamaria Addonizio said. "They hit the ball really hard off Carissa."

The Rams added another run in the second thanks to the hard work of Lauren Kolodziej, who fouled off several pitches before eventually drawing a walk that ended a 13-pitch at-bat. After a sacrifice and a groundout, Kolodziej scored on Dean's single to left that made it 4-1.

Swampscott (6-6, 6-4 NEC North) went quietly in the first three innings against Melissa McLaughlin before threatening in the fourth. Marissa Gambale got the inning started with a bunt base hit. McGrath followed with another single before Gwen Luke's one-out hit brought Gambale in from second, cutting the gap to 4-1.

The Rams missed out on a golden chance in the bottom of the inning, loading the bases with one out. But Roche got Laramie looking and King on a grounder to third for the third out.

Classical would score in the fifth, however. Pinch-hitter Jen Saravia singled and moved to second on an outfield error. After a passed ball moved her to third, Clemens brought her in with a blooper to left to make it 5-1.

"We win by two, and look at the plays we get. Lauren has a big at-bat and then scores," Warren said. "And Jen comes off the bench, gets a hit and scores. That's what you need in this league because the teams are so close."

Trailing 5-1 and with McLaughlin seemingly on cruise control, Swampscott showed its moxie and made things interesting. Gambale and McGrath again were the table-setters as they singled in front of a Natalia Shams walk that loaded the bases.

McLaughlin hit Luke, forcing home Gambale to make it 5-2 before a Monica Mosho sacrifice fly cut the lead to two. But McLaughlin got Kaleigh Barbuzzi swinging to end the threat and preserve the win.

LYNN -- Less than 24 hours after being no-hit by Saugus' Ashlee Patterson, Lynn English had to try to build its confidence back up against archrival Classical at Keaney Park on Thursday.

The Bulldogs managed only four hits against Melissa McLaughlin, but two of them came in the bottom of the seventh inning as Aleasha Despres' single scored Cara Crowley from third for a 1-0 win over the Rams.

"They showed up ready to play, and it showed," English coach Alisa Fila said. "This game is a lot about pride, and they dug down deep. Both teams played a great game and you'd expect nothing less than that."

This game belonged to the pitchers -- McLaughlin and English's Debbie Santos. The two finished with nearly identical lines, eight strikeouts and one walk, with Santos hitting a batter and scattering three hits.

"Melissa pitched great and Debbie pitched well," Classical coach Chris Warren said. "It just came down to a bleeder on an intentional walk."

For five innings, neither team had a legitimate scoring chance. Then, in the top of the sixth, Santos issued her lone walk with one out to Courtney King.

After an Afton Dean groundout, Sam Barker reached on an infield single. With Ashley Laramie up, Santos uncorked a wild pitch and King tried to score. Crowley got to the ball and flipped to a covering Santos, who applied the tag just in time.

"We needed to find a run and tried to make it happen there with Courtney," Warren said.

Classical knocked on the door again in the top of the seventh as Laramie led off with a single. After a sacrifice and a groundout moved pinch-runner Erin McCall to third, Santos got Lauren Kolodziej on a grounder to Katie Gouthro at short to end the inning.

Crowley got the bottom of the seventh started with a smash when she clocked a triple over Cierra Campbell's head in right. After a flyout, McLaughlin walked Gouthro to put runners on the corners for Despres.

The Rams had no intention of pitching to English's No. 7 batter as Despres twice fouled off pitches during the intentional walk. Then, with the count at 3-2, she flicked a broken-bat single over Dean's head at short, bringing Crowley home for the win.

"Aleasha stuck the bat out and got it on the ball," Fila said. "And Cara got the clutch hit to get things started."

Classical had a mini-threat in the opening inning, having runners on second and third with two outs. But Santos got Laramie on a comebacker to the mound for the final out. The Bulldogs, meanwhile, got just four runners on against McLaughlin in the first six innings before staging the dramatic finish in the seventh.

"This is a tremendous confidence builder for us," Fila said.

The Classical High softball team finished the week on a high note with a 6-1 win over Salem Friday at Salem.

Classical pitcher Melissa McLaughlin struck out 12, but she found herself in a couple of jams including one in the first. Salem loaded the bases with two outs, but catcher Sam Barker picked off a runner at first to end the threat.

Coach Chris Warren and Co. had a few more anxious moments in the fourth inning when the Witches loaded the bases, but McLaughin pitched her way out of the jam.

Classical scored three runs in the first inning. Savanna Clemens, who had singled, scored on a passed ball that Salem didn't get too quickly enough, allowing Courtney Sullivan to score as well. Afton Dean (3-for-4) came home on a passed ball and the Rams had a 3-0 lead.

Classical scored in the fifth when Barker singled in Sullivan, and again in the sixth, when Lauren Kolodziej and Jeven Saravia each drove in runs. Ashley Laramie went 2-for-3 and scored a run. Freshman Jenny Garrity pitched the final inning for the Rams, who are 64.

Team Rallies for Win Classical 5, Revere 0

5/03/07 At Breed, the Rams' (5-4) Melissa McLaughlin (3 hits, 5 strikeouts, 2 walks) retired the first 14 batters she faced. Classical scored three runs in the first inning and one in the fifth and the sixth. Afton Dean (3 RBI), Savanna Clemens (hit, 2 runs scored) and Kristen Dean and Amanda Stevens (1 RBI each) all played well.

Lauren Forgione took the loss for Revere. She also had a hit, as did Stacey Marino, Jen Laurano and Amanda Morash

Danvers 7, Classical 5

At Breed, Danvers scored two runs in the top of the seventh inning to escape with a win. The Falcons took a 2-0 lead in the first inning, but the Rams battled back to go up 3-2 after two innings. The seesaw went the other way in the third inning when Danvers got three runs for a 5-3 lead, but Classical tied it at five in the bottom of the third inning.

LYNNFIELD -- Lynnfield coach Eileen Goodwin knew that her team's game on Tuesday with Classical would be one of the toughest the Pioneers would face all season. Well, the Rams lived up to Goodwin's expectations and then some.

Kristen Dean had a day every high school player dreams about, hitting for the cycle and driving in seven runs as the Rams breezed to a 17-2, 5-inning win at Lynnfield Middle School.

"Kristen certainly had a monster day," Classical coach Chris Warren said. "I've been around this program for 15 years and I've never seen anyone hit for the cycle. She has been hitting the ball solid all year."

Dean drilled a single in the second and a 3-run triple in the second before hitting a 2-run homer and 2-run double in a marathon fifth inning to complete her cycle.

"We knew coming in that Classical would be powerful, but we hung with them for four innings," Goodwin said. "It was more that our pitcher (Samantha Harris) started to get tired and we had a couple of communication errors."

Harris, who tossed a no-hitter against Wilmington on Monday, faced an early jam as Classical loaded the bases with no outs in the first inning. But the Rams wouldn't score as Harris got a pair of fielder's choices and an Ashley Laramie grounder back to the mound to end the inning.

Lynnfield used that momentum to jump on top in the bottom of the first. With one down, Katie Relihan singled and Meghan MacNichol reached on an error in left, putting runners at second and third.

Harris then smoked a lined shot off the left-field fence for a 2-run double and a 2-0 lead. But she would be stranded at second as Melissa McLaughlin got Kelsey Chisholm and Alex Williams on fly balls to end the inning.

"I think we started a little sluggish," Warren said. "We come out with the bases loaded and get nothing out of it and they end up with a 2-0 lead."

After a quiet second inning, Classical went back to the drawing board in the third and immediately found results.

Courtney Sullivan started things with an infield single that Afton Dean followed with a base hit. A misplayed grounder had Courtney King loading the bases with one down.

Ashley Laramie got the first crack against Harris, but she popped out to first. Kristen Dean wouldn't miss as she roped a shot up the gap in left to clear the bases and hand the Rams a 3-2 lead.

"We gave them a little talking-to before that inning and they responded with three runs to take the lead," Warren said.

Classical kept on swinging its shillelaghs in the fourth inning, tacking on three more runs for a 6-2 lead. Savanna Clemens and Sullivan each singled with one out before Afton Dean blasted a triple to center to make it 5-2. Sam Barker's grounder to second upped the margin to three.

After her first-inning struggles, McLaughlin settled down and kept the Pioneers at bay over the next three innings, eventually going four innings with three strikeouts and no earned runs.

"Melissa did a great job of rebounding from getting squeezed in the first inning," Warren said.

Classical broke the game wide open in the fifth, sending 15 batters to the plate and scoring 11 runs.

Kristen Dean did most of the damage in the inning as she belted a homer to left that made it 8-2 and would add a 2-run single later to complete the cycle. Amanda Stevens had a pinch-hit 2-run single, with Tori Beliveau and Sam Barker also driving in runs.

If any team has had the measure of the Lynn Classical softball team, it's Winthrop . In the last three games the teams had played coming into Saturday, it was the Vikings who took one-run victories.

But Classical turned the tables at Grace Rogato Field on Saturday.

Ashley Laramie took care of the Classical offense with a 2-run double in the second inning, and then the Rams held on for dear life thanks to 12 strikeouts from Melissa McLaughlin in a 2-1 win.

"( Winthrop ) always plays us tough," Classical coach Chris Warren said. "(Dave) Guffy does a great job over there with that program. Melissa definitely was the difference."

Laramie 's double brought home Cierra Cambpell and Courtney King for the 2-0 lead through three. The Vikings responded with a Kristen Finn sacrifice fly in the sixth to cut the gap to a run.

In the seventh, Winthrop put the tying and go-ahead runs in scoring position with two outs. But they wouldn't score as McLaughlin, after careful deliberation about an intentional walk, struck out the final batter to preserve the win.

The Classical High softball team overcame a rocky start last year to qualify for the state tournament, and coach Chris Warren is hoping to see a little bit of the momentum that got the Rams going last spring carry into this year.

Classical started the 2006 season 2-7, but battled back to a 10-10 record in the final weekend of the regular season.

"We ended really strong," Warren said. "I just hope we can carry it into this year."

Warren had 10 players returning from last year's varsity, eight of them seniors, including Melissa McLaughlin, who is back on the mound for the Rams. Although McLaughlin has battled injury and the effects of a car accident, Warren said she should be ready to go by the start of the season.

"She's been working really hard to get herself ready," Warren said.

McLaughlin will have an experienced infield behind her with Lauren Kolodziej at first base; Courtney King at second; Afton Dean at shortstop; and Jen Saravia at third.

A Ram-tastic Finish

McLaughlin, Dean Lead Lynn Classical to Tourney-Clinching Win over Gloucester

The Lynn Classical softball team traveled to Disney World in April for two intra-state games but the Rams made it to high school sports’ equivalent of the Magic Kingdom – the MIAA Tournament - on the final day of their season.
Sparked by a superb pitching performance from junior Melissa McLaughlin and the clutch hitting of sophomore Afton Dean, Classical defeated Gloucester, 4-1, to nail down a state tournament berth Sunday afternoon at Grace Rogato Field.
The Rams’ victory culminated a wild weekend in which the Rams participated in the John Holland Memorial Tournament where they lost a heartbreaking 3-2 decision to St. Mary’s Saturday in 12 innings in the semifinals. Earlier that day, Classical had defeated English 9-3 in a continuation of Friday’s rain-shortened game.
The Rams fell to Swampscott 2-0 Sunday morning in the Holland consolation game, leaving coach Chris Warren’s contingent with a 4 p.m. win-or-go-home scenario against Gloucester and its all-star pitcher Kat Scola.
Classical took a 1-0 lead in the fourth. Stacey Sport tripled down the right field line. Katelynn Stanger laid down a bunt and Sport made a nice slide to beat the throw from the Gloucester first baseman.
Gloucester tied the game at 1-1 in the fifth but Classical surged ahead with three runs in the sixth. Stanger was hit by a pitch and Cierra Campbell reached on an infield hit. Dean connected for a triple over the left fielder’s head to make it 3-1. Barker’s safety squeeze bunt brought home Dean for a 4-1 lead.
McLaughlin, gallantly pitching 30 innings over the weekend, saved her best for last as she mowed down the final six Gloucester hitters to lock up the tourney-clinching victory. McLaughlin held the tournament-bound Lady Fishermen to four hits while striking out five.
“Melissa just poured in on at the end of the season,” said Chris Warren. “She was huge for us this weekend. She gave up only two earned runs.”
The Rams started the season with a 2-7 record, but rallied to win eight of their last 11 games to qualify for the tournament.
“When you win six in a row coming down the stretch and you give yourself that fighting chance, you don’t want to come that far and not get it done,” said Warren. “That was our motto for the final game. All game long, we were saying, ‘get it done’ and they did. Their backs were against the wall in the last game of the season and they’re facing a great pitcher. They went up against Gloucester and played incredibly. Defensively, offensively, and on the mound, the execution was perfect.”
“This team is incredible,” said McLaughlin, who missed all of the 2005 season due to a shoulder injury. “Mr. Warren supports everybody and he treats us like his family. I know we can do well in the state tournament.”

Dean delivers for Lynn Classical softball

Classical coach Chris Warren knew he was getting a potential all-star when former Wyoma Little League softball phenom Afton Dean entered the Rams’ softball program as a freshman.
Dean has met those high expectations, earning a spot on the Northeastern Conference all-star team this season.
Dean had a remarkable stretch in the second half of the season when she had 10 consecutive basehits in three games against Swampscott and Revere. Her biggest hit of the season: a two-run triple in Sunday’s 4-1 win over Gloucester.
“She’s been swinging a great bat,” said coach Chris Warren. “She’s hit over .400 and she’s been playing great defense [at shortstop].”
Dean was happy to contribute to the team’s tournament-clinching victory.
“We did it for the seniors and it feels great to be going to the tournament,” said Dean. “It didn’t look good at all at the beginning but everybody just came together after ten games and we won as one unit. The way Melissa [McLaughlin] came back from an injury like that and to perform the way she has – that’s just unbelievable. She’s more valuable to this team as anybody.”

Classical Softball Prevails vs. Swampscott
By Matthew Roy , For The Daily Item of Lynn, Tuesday, May 17, 2005

LYNN - Turnabout was only fair for Lynn Classical on Monday at Grace Rogato Field.
After losing a 2-1 heartbreaker to Swampscott earlier this season on an eighth inning wild pitch, the Rams got much-awaited revenge when Big Blue freshman Carissa Roche balked home Ashia Holcombe with the winning run in a 3-2 nail-biter.
"I really feel bad for (Roche)," Classical coach Chris Warren said after the game. "She pitched a great game and that's not the way you want to win a game. But we'll take them any way we can get them."
The future of the Northeastern Conference was on full display Monday, with Roche and fellow freshman Afton Dean of Classical in the circle and a bevy of underclassmen in the starting lineups. And the two squads made things quite entertaining.
Classical (7-6) was the first to strike, scoring a run on a hit against Roche in the opening inning. Savanna Clemons bunted for a base hit and advanced on a Stacey Sport walk. After a Jen Allder sacrifice, Dean hit a fly ball to center, scoring Clemons easily from third.
After that, zeroes became the norm as both pitchers put it on cruise control in the middle innings. Dean retired 10 of 12 batters she faced from the second inning on while Roche worked around bouts of wildness and got timely help from her defense to keep the Rams off the scoreboard.
"Carissa pitched fantastic," Swampscott coach Tony Gallugi said. "She's light years ahead of where she was at the beginning of the season. This was just a well-played game."
It stayed 1-0 into the sixth, where Swampscott finally solved the puzzle that was Dean. With one gone, pinch hitter Sam Skalsky singled to center. She then advanced to third on a heads-up base running move following Steph Miller's sacrifice bunt.
Brittany Allain (3-for-3) drew the Big Blue even with her second hit of the game, a single to right, which plated Skalsky. Emily Resler then singled, advancing Allain to second for No. 5 hitter Gwen Luke. Luke promptly roped a single to center, bringing Allain to the plate for a 2-1 lead.
That lead lasted all of 10 minutes as Dean led off the bottom of the inning with a double down the third base line. Roche then got a pop out and Dean was caught stealing third before Courtney King singled. After King stole second, Cierra Campbell's grounder to second was thrown away, bringing King in with the tying run.
"When you make mistakes against a team like Classical, they are going to take advantage of them," Gallugi said.
The Rams barely missed on an opportunity to end things in the seventh when Clemons singled and Sport walked. Allder then popped up to Luke at first as Clemons tagged on the play. Luke's throw was wild, giving Clemons a chance to score, but Kaleigh Barbuzzi threw a strike to Miller at the plate to force extra innings.
After holding Swampscott scoreless in the eighth, Classical went about ending things. Holcombe got it going with a one out single off Miller's glove at second. After a steal of second by Holcombe, King popped up to short. Roche then walked Cierra Campbell and both runners advanced on a passed ball.
Following another walk, this one to Jen Saravia, Roche got into a 3-0 hole against Jill Magner before she was tagged for the balk, scoring Holcombe for the Classical win.
"That's a tough thing for a high school kid," Warren said. "But this was a win we really needed."

Classical Softball Team get Ready for Season
By Joyce Erekson, The Daily Item of Lynn, Wednesday, March 23, 2005

First Row : Lauren Carroll, Justina Alicudo, Paula McGinn, Jackie Riley, Mallorie Ekstrom, Caitlin Gaudet

Second Row : Lisa Gonzales, Alex Pierre, Jenn Allder, Jen Ashwell, Katelyn Stanger

Third Row :Emily Myette, Ashia Holcombe, Courtney King, and Melissa McGlaughlin

Courtney slides in for the score; we beat Masco to go into the EMass Final Championship Game, to take place Sunday, 6/8, 7pm, at Martin Park in Lowell

With a remarkable number of returning players the 2003 Softball Season has a bright future ahead of them. Last year the Lady Rams finished third in the Northeastern Conference and ended their season with a loss to Danvers in the second round of the Division 1 State Tournament. The Rams finished 15-7 and had four NEC All-Stars including: Heather Kerrins, Nicole Oak, Courtney Ferrari, and Paula McGinn. In addition, the Rams head coach, Chris Warren, was named Coach of the Year. This winter the Lady Rams participated in an indoor softball league on Sundays to hone their skills. The preseason is coming to a close and the Lady Rams on April 5, 2003, will be partaking in a Play Day, which consists of scrimmages from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Danvers.

	Player	Grade	Position
1	Lisa Gheringhelli	Senior	Outfielder
2	Courtney Ferrari	Senior	Outfielder
3	Christina Mihos	Senior	Pitcher
4	Katie Abernathy	Senior	Infielder
5	Molly Connolly	Senior	Infielder
6	Nicole Little	Senior	Infielder
7	Michelle Raiche	Senior	Infielder
8	Ashley Boltrushek	Senior	Infielder
9	Jackie Riley	Junior	Catcher
10	Justina Alicudo	Junior	Infielder
11	Paula McGinn	Junior	Infielder
12	Caitlin Gaudet	Junior	Outfielder
13	Lisa Gonzales	Freshman	Infielder

A Ram-tastic Finish

McLaughlin, Dean Lead Lynn Classical to Tourney-Clinching Win over Gloucester

Dean delivers for Lynn Classical softball

2003 Varsity Roaster

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