Vikings defeat Marblehead, 7-4

The Winthrop High baseball team parlayed a fine pitching performance by Anthony Hatzisavas and timely hitting to earn a 7-4 victory at Marblehead Thursday.

“This was a very nice win for us,” said WHS head coach Jim Gillis, whose Vikings now are 2-1 on the season. “Marblehead is an NEC South Division rival and we beat their number one pitcher.”

After spotting the Magicians a 2-0 lead in the fourth, Winthrop erupted for five runs in the top of the fifth. Nick McCarthy, who had two of the Vikings’ four hits on the day, and Joe Boudrow, who played another solid game at shortstop, delivered the key hits in the rally. Joe D’Amore also contributed a base hit in the big inning.

The Vikings gave Hatzisavas a little extra cushioning with two more tallies in the seventh. Although Marblehead struck for two in its half of the seventh, it proved too little, too late for the home team.

Hatzisavas’s final line showed him yielding eight hits and allowing only two earned runs, while fanning three and walking only two.

“Anthony was throwing just as hard in the seventh as he did in the opening inning,” said Gillis. “He had good control and we gave him some good defensive support.”

One key play came in the sixth with the bases loaded and one out. A grounder to Will Milano resulted in a nice double play when Will stepped on the bag for the second out and then fired to first to complete the DP. Although his throw was low, Viking first baseman Anthony Spinazzola scooped the ball out of the dirt to end the inning and kill the threat.

“Our pitching is proving to be our strength,” noted Gillis afterwards. “I think we have more depth than most teams in the NEC. As long as we play solid defense and if we can continue to get our bats on the ball, we should do well.”

The depth and quality of the Viking staff will be put to the test in short order as Winthrop gets into the heart of its schedule with three games per week on tap for most of the rest of the season.

Gillis and his crew were set to travel to Gloucester yesterday (Wednesday) and will host Danvers Friday at 10:00 a.m. Swampscott comes to town Monday afternoon and then Saugus make a visit on Wednesday.