The Revere High softball team earned a pair of big victories this past week, defeating Northeastern Conference foes Winthrop and Lynn Classical, both of whom are at the top of the standings in the NEC. In addition, the twin wins boosted the Lady Patriots over the .500 mark to 7-6, significantly improving their chances for qualifying for the state tournament, which requires a .500 record.
Last Monday’s contest with Winthrop, which came into the encounter riding high on a five-game winning streak, was billed as a matchup between two of the premier sophomore pitchers in the area, Winthrop’s Maura Lanza and Lady Patriot Sabrina Palermo.
However, Palermo emerged as the victor, limiting Winthrop to just four hits and fanning 11 to lead the Lady Patriots to a 3-1 triumph.
Revere’s 11 hit attack was paced by Ally Hinojosa, who went 3-for-3 with a home run in a performance that earned Ally the game ball from coach Joe Ciccarello.
“This was a real break-out game for Ally,†noted Ciccarello.
Christina Stella, with two hits and an RBI, and Jackie Noel, with an RBI base hit, accounted for the other two Revere tallies, as the Lady Patriot notched single markers in the third, fourth, and fifth frames to stake Palermo to a 3-0 advantage that proved more than enough for the sophomore fireballer.
The next contest for the Lady Patriots brought perennial NEC power Lynn Classical, the winner of four straight NEC North Division titles which sported an 8-3 mark coming into the tilt.
However, Palermo and Co. proved more than equal to the task, posting a well-played 6-3 victory. Freshman Julianna Cecere was the hitting star for the Lady Patriots, going 3-for-4 with a triple, a double, two RBI, and a run scored. Julianna was awarded the game ball for her prowess at the plate.
After the Lady Patriots saw an early 2 0 lead erased by a three-run Classical third frame, Revere struck back with a four run uprising in the sixth. A base hit by Alexa Dacey got the Revere rally going and key hits by Logan DiCarlo and Cecere delivered the runs.
Palermo meanwhile, had settled in nicely en route to a four hit win in which she once again fanned 11 enemy hitters.
“Classical has been a real nemesis for us,†said Ciccarello. “We haven’t beaten them in quite a while, so this was a really big win for the team.â€
The Lady Patriots began their contest with Beverly last Thursday and got as far as the fifth inning with the score tied at 1-1. However, the rains game, washing away the game, which now must be replayed from the start.
Ciccarello and his crew travel to Lynn English today (Wednesday) and host Waltham Thursday for Senior Night festivities.
RHS girls tennis defeats Winthrop
The Revere High girls tennis team notched its first win of the season with a 3-2 triumph over Winthrop last week.
The trio of Lady Patriots singles players powered Revere to the victory. Sarah Grujic handily won her match at first singles in straight sets, 6-1, 6-2. Mariah Rivera also won in straight sets, though by closer margins, 7-6 (7-1), 6-4. Evelyn Bonilla at third singles provided what would prove to be the decisive match, edging her Winthrop counterpart in a tough, two and one-half hour match in three sets, 6-1, 4-6, 6-4, in the final match of the day
“Evelyn really came through for us,†said RHS head coach Carla Maniscalco. “Her Winthrop opponent came on strong in the final two sets, but Evelyn played consistently well throughout the match and held her off to give us the victory.â€
The Lady Patriots’ doubles tandems of Leila Darouey & Rim Lereri at first doubles and Andrea Rueda & Yesenia Mazo at second doubles lost their matches in straight sets, but Maniscalco noted that all of those girls have been improving as they gain more experience.
The Lady Patriots host Salem today (Wednesday), travel to Beverly tomorrow, and entertain Lynn English Monday.
RHS boys track cruises past Salem
The Revere High boys outdoor track team improved to 6-0 on the season with an 88-48 win over Salem last Monday. The Patriots were set to face Peabody yesterday (Tuesday) for the championship of the Large School Division of the Northeastern Conference.
Joey Ritchie was the top point-getter for Coach Jack Mosko’s troops, scoring 12.25 points. Joey did it with a win in the 100 meter dash in 11.4; a first place in the triple jump with a distance of 41-2; a third place finish in the javelin with throw of 125-7; and leading off the RHS 4 x 100 relay squad that qualified for the State Meet with a time of 44.5.
Karim Sahila also was a double winner, capturing both hurdles events, the 110 highs in 15.4, which was both a personal record (PR) and state-qualifying time, and the 400 lows in 60.0. He also added a third place finish in the triple jump at 37-8 to contribute 11 points on the day for the Patriots.
Bobby Rose figured in the scoring in four events for Revere. Bobby blazed to victory in the 200 dash in a state-qualifying time of 23.3; grabbed second in the long jump with a leap of 19-6; took a third in the high jump, clearing the bar at 5-8; and ran a leg on the 4 x100 relay.
Johnny Lopes scored points in three events. He won the long jump with a leap of 30-3.5, which was his season’s best; took a second in the 200 meter dash in 24.0, also a season’s best; and ran the third leg of the victorious 4 x 100 relay team.
Other first place finishers for Revere were: John DelloRusso in the two mile run in 11:14.39; Rawlings Toglan in the 400 dash in 53.4; Zach Primo in the 800 in 2:07.3; Kristi Nushi in the mile in a PR time of 4:54; and Omar Morales in the shotput with a heave of 46-1.
Adding three points to the Revere cause with second place performances were: Sala Barhoum in the two mile in 11:27; Tarik Maddrey with a high jump of 6-0 (Tarik also was the fourth leg of the 4 x 100 relay squad); Frank Davidson in the mile in 5:00; and Mirza Liskovica with a discus toss of 110-9.5.
Contributing single points to the Revere side of the scoresheet with third place finishes were: Lionel Forbes in the 400 low hurdles in a PR clocking of 67.9; Jay Mistri in the two mile in 12.10.3, also a PR; Tarik Maddrey in the 100 dash in 11.6; Derek Fortuna in the 400 dash in 60.9, a PR; Mo Benzadok in the 800 in 2:23; Bourlaing Chea in the 200 dash in 25.0; and Morales with a discus twirl of 106-7.5.
Boys tennis team drops two matches
Although the Revere High boys tennis team dropped both of its matches this past week to Swampscott and Peabody, coach Mike Flynn’s charges continue to show improvement as the season progresses.
In a 3-2 loss to Peabody, Nick Mucci, who was shifted from his usual third singles slot to second singles, defeated his Peabody counterpart in straight sets, 6-4, 6-4. “We were shorthanded so Nick stepped up for us and came though with a nice win,†said Flynn.
Mladen Pepic, playing at first singles, played well in a straight set loss, 6-1, 6-3. The Patriot doubles duos of Satyak Som & Dan Talic and Brian Monroy & Talal Kahn fell in straight sets, but Flynn noted that he was pleased with their aggressiveness at the net.
Flynn and his crew trek to Salem today (Wednesday), host Winthrop tomorrow in a make-up of last week’s rainout, travel to Lynn English Monday, and entertain Beverly Tuesday.
