RHS softball team claims NEC North title with dramatic victory
The Revere High softball team clinched an undisputed Northeastern Conference North Division championship for the second year in a row with a 3-2 triumph over Gloucester Saturday at St. Mary’s Field. Coach Joe Ciccarello’s Lady Patriots thus become the first Revere High team to win two consecutive NEC titles since Revere entered the NEC in the fall of 2005.
Revere entered the week with a two-game advantage over second-place Lynn Classical and needed to win two of their final three NEC contests in order to claim undisputed first place in the NEC North. The Lady Patriots accomplished the first half of that mission handily with a 13-2 triumph at Peabody last Wednesday. Sabrina Palermo turned in a route-going pitching effort in which Sabrina allowed one earned run on five hits while fanning seven Peabody opponents.
Her teammates provided plenty of offense, led by a pair of freshmen, Victoria Correia, who went 2-for-3 with a walk and two runs scored (and who was awarded the game ball by Ciccarello), and Alina Giuliano, who went 2-for-2 with three runs scored.
Other major contributors for the Lady Pats were senior captain Victoria Russo, who went 3-for-5 with three RBI, and junior Ally Hinojosa, who also went 3-for-5Â with two ribbies.
Saturday’s contest with Gloucester proved to be anything but a walk-in-the-park, however. Palermo took care of business on the mound, tossing six scoreless innings, but the thunder of the Revere bats from three days earlier was absent, as the teams battled to a scoreless duel through the first six frames.
The visiting Lady Fishermen then reached Palermo for a pair of tallies (only one of which was earned) in the top of the seventh, leaving the Lady Patriots facing a 2-0 deficit entering the bottom of the seventh. But as Revere’s foes have found out the hard way all season, the 2015 RHS squad is a resilient and battle-hardened group who have been augmented by a gritty group of newcomers.
Julianna Cecere led off the inning with a base hit and freshman Correia followed with a single. After both runners advanced on a passed ball, freshman Giuliano rocketed a double to bring both teammates around, tying the score at 2-2 and sending the contest into extra innings.
Palermo put Gloucester down in 1-2-3 order in the top of the eighth, setting the stage for the winning rally. Russo led off with a walk and Hinojosa singled. Gloucester decided to intentionally walk captain Kristina Stella, loading the bases with none out for Cecere. That move backfired however, as Julianna drew a base on balls, forcing in Russo with the winning — and title-clinching — run for the walk-off victory.
“We’ve accomplished our first goal of the season, which was to win another NEC title,†said Cicarello, the 2014 Boston Globe Division 1 Coach of the Year whose team captured the Division 1 North Sectional of the MIAA state tournament last year. “Now we want to finish out the season with three wins to earn a high seeding and play as many home games as possible in the state tourney.â€
Cicarello and his crew, who stand at 13-4 overall and 11-2 in the NEC, were set to travel to Salem yesterday (Tuesday) and then will host Waltham Friday evening under the lights at the St. Mary’s Field that will be highlighted by what should be emotional Senior Night festivities. The Lady Patriots will wrap up their season Saturday at Medford. The MIAA is expected to announce the seedings and pairings for the state tourney Monday morning.
Shanbar captures fourth
place at NEC Meet
Rachel Shanbar was the top performer for the Revere High girls track team at Saturday’s Northeastern Conference Meet with a fourth place finish in the discus event with a toss of 85’-7â€.
“Rachel really stepped up with a clutch throw,†said RHS head coach Antonio LaBruna. “She threw 87’-3†earlier this season, but hadn’t been throwing as far the past couple of weeks, so it was encouraging to see her get back to where she should be.â€
Other Lady Patriots who came home with ribbons by placing in the top six in their events at the meet were Catherine Elam with a triple jump of 29’-4†and the 4 X 400 relay quartet of Elam, Helen Perez, Hannah Fitzpatrick, and Danielle Fortuna, who each raced around the track for a cumulative clocking of 4:42.9.
Perez also turned in a notable performance in the 400 meter hurdles with a personal record (PR) time of 1:15.9. “Helen has worked extremely hard this season and really improved her endurance,†said LaBruna. “She has run a 1:17 the past few meets, so it was great to see her break through and lower her time.â€
Suellen Guerreiro also ran a PR in the mile with a time of 6:17.5.
Shanbar is the team’s lone state qualifier and will be competing in the discus this Saturday in the Division 1 State Championship Meet in Lowell.
RHS girls lacrosse
team defeats Malden
The Revere High girls lacrosse team wrapped up its season this past week, highlighted by a 10-2 victory over Malden. Amina Mansouri scored five goals to lead the Lady Patriot offense. Also reaching the back of the Malden net for Revere were Ayah Omar, Marina Robinson, Sophia Rivera, and Danela Ortiz.
“We controlled the tempo of the game and worked on spreading out offensively,†said RHS head coach Karen Atkinson.
In other contests the past week, the Lady Patriots fought well in a 12-9 loss to Matignon that was a back-and-forth battle for a majority of the time. RHS goalie Shateya Travis played well, recording 10 saves. Leang Chrea zipped four balls into the Matignon net. Ayah Omar scored twice and Olivia Venezia, Taylor Giuffre-Catalano, and Amina Mansouri chipped in a goal apiece.
The Lady Patriots also engaged in a closely-contested duel with Lowell Tech this past Friday, falling by a score of 7-6. Revere then dropped the rematch the following day, 13-5, in the season finale.
“We finished our season greatly improved and I could not have asked for more In a rebuilding year,†said Atkinson. “Our five seniors — Ayah Omar, Leangcheng Chrea, Rachael DeSantis, Olivia Venezia, and Jasmina Zelkanovic — began the program and finished their four years strong. I look forward to the future years within this program.â€
RHS sports Through the Years
10 years ago
May 25, 2005
The RHS baseball team kept alive its slim hopes for reaching the state tournament as Coach Al Blasi’s squad defeated Waltham, 14-10, and Medford, 5-2. The Patriots overcame a 9-3 deficit at Waltham behind the heavy hitting of Owen Lyons (2-5, two runs, RBI), Joe Mercurio (2-3, three RBI), Mark Addesa (3-5, three RBI), and Steve Bagnera (2-3, RBI, three runs). Rick Mastropietro tossed a complete game against Peabody, allowing just one earned run, and stroked a two-run homer.
Coach Joe Nichinello’s 9-9 RHS softball team needs one more victory to qualify for the state tournament. In a 4-3 win over Waltham this week, Christina Polsonetti tossed a four hitter. Nicole Perullo and Polsonetti both had RBI doubles.
Ryan Burke was the lone medal winner for the RHS boys track team at the GBL Meet, taking second place in the mile in 4:45.
Â
20 years ago
May 24, 1995
Revere High star pitcher Mike Spinelli struck out 18 Waltham hitters to pace the Patriots to a 3-1 win, snapping a three game losing streak for the Pats. Coach Al Blasi’s squad already has qualified for a state tourney berth for the third year in a row.
Kelli Hyland scored 15 points to lead the RHS girls track team to a 90-28 win over Everett. Hyland won the javelin with a throw of 65’; the discus with a toss of 67’ (nine feet better than her closest rival, even though it was the first time she ever had thrown the discus); and the 100 dash in 14.8 seconds.
30 years ago
May 22, 1985
The RHS softball team defeated Everett, 4-3, and Peabody, 8-7, this past week. Lori Perry was the winning pitcher in both contests. In the win over Peabody, Gina Anastos delivered a two-run single and Diane Odoardi knocked in the winning run.
The downbeat continued for the RHS baseball team, losers of 10 of their last 11 games, with losses to Somerville, 12-3, and Peabody, 5-4.
50 years ago
May 27, 1965
The annual Little League Carnival is set for next weekend.
60 years ago
May 26 1955
The Revere High baseball team defeated Quincy, 1-0, and Lowell, 11-5, this past week. Charlie Goldstein tossed a three-hit shutout in the Quincy victory and then came back in relief to pick up the win in the Lowell contest. Gil Gaff belted a grand slam homer in the Lowell game to break things open for Coach John Capone’s squad.