THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – Friday, August 2, 2019 Page 15 Stretch of losses knocks Wings out of playoffs By Greg Phipps A week ago, the Saugus Wings still had a realistic chance of making the North Shore Baseball League (NSBL) playoffs. A 3-1 victory over the North Shore Storm back on July 18 had the Wings within a game of the eighth and final postseason position. That all changed drastically over this past week as Saugus dropped its next five games and fell to 4-19 and alone in last place in the NSBL. With just one game remaining on the regular season schedule, it also guaranteed the Wings won’t be participating in this year’s postseason as they were two games behind eighth-place Rowley. Consecutive losses to Peabody, North Reading and Kingston by a combined 28-9 margin left the Wings in desperate straits entering Monday’s contest against the fifthplace Swampscott Sox at World Series Park. The Wings needed to at least take two of their last three games, and Monday’s tilt began in promising fashion. Starter Tyler Armstrong wiggled his way out of a bases-loaded first-inning jam and set the Sox down in order in the second. Meanwhile, Saugus loaded the bases in its half of the first but failed to convert. The Wings did edge in front, 1-0, with two outs in the bottom of the second when a topper up the middle by Mike Mabee went for a hit and scored Steve DiBlasi from third base. DiBlasi had reached on an error earlier in the frame. A deep fly out to center field ended the inning. That would end up being all the scoring for the Wings, who RILEY | from page 5 Fair at Saugus High School in 2014, and it has become an annual event. When I became aware that only the Ballard School had a defibrillator, I worked with private industry for donations, and secured nine automated external defibrillators (AEDs) for placement in all Saugus Public schools in 2013. For all four years as a School Committee member, I voted to support the full Operational Budget, as proposed by the Superintendent. While on the School Committee, I also gained a detailed understanding of union contract negotiations, vendor contracts, school Saugus’s Ronnie Paolo goes in hard to second base to break up a double play in Monday’s home loss to Swampscott. (Advocate Photos by Greg Phipps) Saugus first baseman Steve DiBlasi reaches down in an attempt to scoop a short infield pop-up as second baseman Mike Mabee maneuvers to avoid him. were blanked the rest of the way by Sox starter Luke Marshall, who allowed the one run on seven hits in his completegame effort. Marshall also struck out seven. Swampscott did eventually break through against Armstrong and came away with its 14th victory. As has been the case all year, Wings starter Tyler Armstrong kept visiting Swampscott off the scoreboard early but couldn’t hold them at bay for long, as Saugus fell 6-1 on Monday. finances via the Finance subcommittee, and Special Educational Needs via the Special Education sub-committee. Outside of government, I have served Saugus in many capacities, including: Gathered signatures and presented Articles to Town Meeting regarding support for Union School Custodians and to Allow Free Speech at Town Meeting, both passing overwhelmingly this year; Vice-President of Saugus Lions Committee; Chairman, Saugus War Monument Committee, leading a buy-a brick program to honor all Veterans. Proceeds go toward maintaining the memorial wall. • Belmonte Renovation Steering Committee member • Belmonte School Council member, 3 years • Belmonte PTO member for 3 years, service as PTO President in 2011 • Belmonte Middle School Parent of the Year, 2011 • Saugus Softball Little League Manager/Coach, and Executive Board Member for 6 years, 20072012 • Religious Educator at St. Margaret Parish Saugus, for 8 years, 2003-2011 • Parish Council Member at St. Margaret Parish for 4 years, 2007-2011 • Co-Chair on the Saugus Coalition for the Homeless, 2003-2004 the Wings struggled mightily to score in the five-game losing skid, which concluded with a 6-3 home loss to Kingston on Tuesday. They had chanc• Campaign Manager (volunteer position) for successful reelection of State Representative Donald Wong, 2015-2019 I am a lifelong Saugus resident and graduated from Saugus High School. I am a homemaker, and married with three children, all of whom attended Saugus Public Schools. I look forward to hearing your concerns and ideas for Saugus on the Campaign Trail! Editor’s Note: Saugus residents wishing to announce their candidacy for public office in the town’s fall elections may submit a statement along with a photo to The Saugus Advocate, which will be published as a courtesy to town voters. es to break open Monday’s game early but couldn’t muster that key situational hit. Saugus had scored only 54 runs in 23 games – a little over two tallies per game – entering Wednesday’s season finale against Peabody. As for the upcoming NSBL playoffs, Kingston is the top seed, followed in order by Peabody, Beverly, the North Shore Phillies, Swampscott, Manchester, the North Shore Storm and Rowley. Advocate Newspapers Free Every Week Everett, Malden, Revere and Saugus Call for Great Advertising Rates 781-233-4446
16 Publizr Home