The Winthrop High (WHS) softball team has started the 2009 season in fine style, winning all three of its contests thus far. The Lady Vikings have played well in all three aspects of the game, defense, pitching, and hitting, but Winthrop particularly impressive at the plate, scoring 29 runs in the three games and sporting a collective .430 team batting average.
“We’re hitting the ball well, especially for so early in the season,†noted WHS head coach Dave Guffey.
In Tuesday’s 12-5 triumph at Gloucester, the Lady Vikings jumped out quickly with four runs in the first inning. Lindsay Barker delivered a base hit to drive in Elaine Lanza and Courtney Finn, who had singled. Another base hit by Alyssa Moore, a walk to Angela Pettee, and another safety by Kristen Lanza produced two more tallies.
Gloucester rallied to take a 5-4 lead in the third, but Winthrop knotted matters when Finn walked, stole second, and scored when a fly ball by Ashley Fiandaca was misplayed by the Gloucester rightfielder.
Winthrop then pulled ahead for good in the sixth. Lead-off hitter Abby Belcher drew a walk and Finn belted a home run, Courtney’s second of the season, to make it 7-5. After Fiandaca reached on an error, base hits by Barker and Moore, a fielder’s choice, and a sacrifice fly, together with some stolen bases, resulted in three more Winthrop runs to increase the lead to 10-5.
Winthrop padded its cushion with two more markers in the seventh when Deanna Buonomo, Finn, Fiandaca, and Moore all singled.
Pettee, who came on in the third inning, pitched shutout ball in her almost five innings of work, allowing just two hits and walking none.
The Lady Vikings took the measure of Lynn Classical on Monday by a 7-4 score. Finn delivered the big blow of the contest, a three-run homer in the third that boosted Winthrop into a 4-2 lead. Although Classical tied the game in the fourth, Winthrop responded right away in the bottom of the inning and retook the lead. After Moore and Amanda Brogna singled, Belcher came through with a two-bagger to score Moore. Brogna then came in from third on a passed ball.
Pettee went all the way, allowing eight hits and two earned runs in seven innings while fanning four. Angela’s control once again was near flawless, as she walked just one enemy hitter.
Last week, Winthrop opened its season with a 10-1 win over nonleague foe Everett. Belcher was a one girl wrecking crew, as she went 3 for 3 with a double and a homer, knocked in four runs, scored four runs, stole a base, and reached on a hit by pitch.
Finn, who is leading the team with an .800 average (Belcher is right behind with a .725 average), was 3 for 4 with three ribbies, a stolen base, and a run scored. Andrea Martucci also enjoyed a good day with two hits, two RBI, a stolen base, and a run scored. Amanda Brogna contributed to the 14 hit Winthrop attack with two hits, a stolen base, and two runs scored.
Pettee is sporting an ERA of 0.82, as she has yielded just two earned runs and 14 hits in 17 innings.
The Lady Vikings hosted Swampscott yesterday (Wednesday) and will host Danvers on Friday. They will travel to North Quincy Monday and Tuesday for a tournament and then return home to face Marblehead next Wednesday.