THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – Friday, April 5, 2019 Page 15 Lady Sachems softball team faces tough schedule this season By Greg Phipps F or the 2019 Saugus High School softball team, qualifying for the postseason for a fourth consecutive year is, of course, one of the objectives. But it won’t be easy, as the Sachems go up against some stiff competition both within and outside the Northeastern Conference (NEC). “Pretty much everybody we have on our schedule is state tournament–tested,” head coach Steve Almquist told the press during the preseason. “It’s going to be a tough year. There are no easy games on the schedule.” Almquist pointed out that the NEC is loaded with formidable foes, such as Danvers, Swampscott, Gloucester, Winthrop, Peabody, Beverly and Marblehead. Saugus isn’t scheduled to open its regM ore than two-thirds of this year’s Saugus High School boys’ lacrosse team are first-year players. So the returning members will be counted to provide the needed leadership to earn another trip to the playoffs. Finishing 8-8 and losing by 14 goals to Pentucket in the first round of last season’s Div. 3 tournament, the Sachems were hindered by discipline issues that led to player suspensions prior to that first-round playoff. “The attitudes have been really great so far. The energy has NORTH SHORE BLACK WOMEN’S ASSOC. TO HOST OPEN HOUSE – APRIL 17 T he North Shore Black Women’s Association will be hosting an Open House on Wednesday, April 17, from 6:00-7:30 p.m. at Anthony’s (105 Canal St. in Malden). All interested parties are welcome to attend. For more information, contact Iodiah Henry at (617) 605-2528. been awesome,” head coach Rob Scuzzarella told the press during the preseason. “I think this core is embarrassed about the disciplinary things that happened last year. They’ve made it a point to eliminate that.” Just 10 of this year’s 33-player roster are returnees from last season’s squad. Scuzzarella is looking for the experienced players to set an example for the rest of the team. “The message to my older guys in the offseason is that we’ve made it to the tournament three times in the past five years,” he said. “We’ve been outscored 56-5 in those three tournament games. It’s time to take the next step: Start competing instead of just getting into the tournament.” Returning on offense are seniors Joe Cross and Dom Paolo, junior Mario Desimone and sophomores Andrew Cipriano and Nick DiVola. Defensively, senior players Nick Aiken and Jake Morgante and juniors Richie Mauro and Kyle Tammaro lead the way. Sophomore Derek Martineau takes over the goalkeeper chores. Saugus plays its home openEverett Aluminum 10 Everett Ave., Everett 617-389-3839 Owned & operated by the Conti family since 1958 • 57 Years! “Same name, phone number & address for family since 1958 • 61 over half a century. We must be doing something right!” •Vinyl Siding •Free Estimates •Carpentry Work •Fully Licensed •Decks •Roof • Fully Insured • Replacement Windows www.everettaluminum.com •Roo ng Now’s the time to schedule those home improvement projects you’ve been dreaming about all winter! ular season until next Friday, April 12, in a non-league tilt at Stoneham. Five seniors return from last year’s unit. They are outfielders Emma Howard, Ashley Shaw and Nystasia Rowe, catcher DJ Munafo and first baseman Sadie DiCenso. Another senior on this year’s team is infielder Alessia Salzillo, who returns after two years away from softball. Pitching ace and 2018 coner Monday against Lynn at Stackpole Field. Scuzzarella said his team competes in the tough Northeastern Conferference all-star and team MVP Caitlyn Wood, a junior, will be counted on to perform, as well as sophomore returnee Alexa Ferraro, a second baseman, who batted over .300 last season as a freshman. Last year Saugus produced an 11-9 record and notched the 14th seed in the Div. 2 North tournament. They lost to Triton in the opening round. Almquist is confident this year’s team can make a reence and will be challenged in all of their games. “We need to start realizing that we don’t have any easy games at all. Our turn trip to the playoffs. “I feel very optimistic. I’m excited to see what [we] can do this year,” he observed. “A couple of [the players] had uncharacteristically off years last year. They’ve all worked hard. I think we’ll be a little more athletic this year, and we have some speed. It’s kind of a blue-collar team. We won’t ‘wow’ anybody, but we’ll grind things out, keep things close and find ways to win.” Young Sachems boys’ LAX team hoping for postseason return By Greg Phipps league is extremely competitive. We have to start approaching things with that mentality,” he said. Looking for a home loan? WE ’RE HERE TO DO RIGHT BY YOU . FIXED RATE MORT G AGES— NO POINTS . 15 YEAR 30 YEAR 3.625% RATE 3.990% RATE EVERETT – 419 BROADWAY LYNNFIELD – 7 7 1 SALEM STREET 61 7-38 7 - 1 1 10 3.733% APR* 4.051% APR* Learn more about our rates at EVERETTBANK . COM *Annual Percentage Rate (APR) is effective April 2, 2019 and is subject to change. All rates and APR’s are calculated based on a $250,000 loan for a rate/term refinance or purchase of a owner-occupied single family dwelling with a 75% loan-to-value. Rates are also based on Loan to Value and credit scores. The monthly principal and interest payment for a 15 Year fixed rate mortgage is $7.21 per $1,000 borrowed. 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