Page 10 THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FriDAy, April 7, 2023 Saugus softball team looks to contend for tourney berth D By Greg Phipps espite losing three key senior players from last season’s team that won 14 games and advanced in the playoffs, the Saugus High School softball team is looking to contend for the tournament again this spring. Last year’s all-star players – third baseman Felicia Reppucci, ace pitcher Fallon Millerick and second baseman Ryan Moloney – have departed, but Head Coach Steve Almquist expects his team to be competitive and in the postseason hunt in 2023. The Sachems sport a young team with many underclassmen. Almquist believes the leadership of co-captains Devany Millerick, who will play at shortstop, Ava Rogers, who will see time at first and third base, and catcher Lily Ventre will serve the team well. All three players have a lot of varsity experience, including postseason games. “We’re going to have our ups and downs this year, but just because we’re young, that’s no excuse,” Almquist told the press during the preseason. “We still expect to compete for the [Northeastern Conference Lynch Division title] and we expect to make the tournament again. These kids are hungry and they’re competing for positions.” If last year is any indication, a potential slow start shouldn’t deter the Sachems, who went on a 12-4 surge after opening the 2022 campaign 1-3. They routed Belchertown, 13-1, in the Div. 3 preliminary round before falling to Austin Prep in the Round of 32. Saugus would conclude with a 14-8 overall mark. Almquist pointed out that the players are very familiar with each other from playing together in the local youth softball leagues. He said that winning is a major goal but the program’s success is not simply determined by wins and losses. “We tell the kids ‘if you leave the year better than when you came in, that’s success. Leave better than you came,’” he said. The Sachems are scheduled to open the season Friday afternoon on the road against Marblehead. They are then off until Wednesday, April 12, when they travel for a tilt at Danvers and a game at Winthrop next Friday, April 14. Shortstop and co-captain Devany Millerick is one of several returning starters who will help lead the Saugus High School Softball Team this season. Saugus baseball enters 2023 season with young squad W By Greg Phipps ith several key senior players having departed from the 2022 squad that qualified for the playoffs and advanced to the Round of 32, the Saugus High School baseball team is made up of an overall younger and less-experienced roster of players this spring. Therefore, expectations may be more reserved than they were entering last year. Head Coach Joe Luis guided last year’s team to an 1111 overall finish. But the Sachems, who compete in the tough Northeastern Conference (NEC), proved to be a more formidable opponent than their .500 record entering the Div. 3 playoffs indicatHelp us protect the rights and dignity of nursing and rest home residents. ed. Saugus defeated the higher-seeded Martha’s Vineyard in the preliminary round and lost a tough 6-5 affair to Foxborough in the Round of 32, a game where they led 5-4 entering the bottom of the seventh frame. The Sachems were just three outs away from making a Sweet 16 appearance. Among those gone from Be a GLSS Ombudsman volunteer. You can make a difference in the lives of area nursing and rest home residents through visiting, listening, advocacy, and problem-solving. To learn more, contact Jillian O’Brien at 781-586-8548 or jobrien@glss.net. LYNN LYNNFI ELD NAHANT SAUGUS SWAMPSCOTT last year’s team, conference all-stars Nathan Ing (pitcher, infielder) and first baseman Ryan Anderson are just two of the several of the departed seniors who will be missed. So there will be some gaps to fill this spring. The Sachems opened the 2023 season on Tuesday with a non-league contest at Shawsheen Valley Tech and came up short by a 9-5 count. Saugus fell behind by an imposing 8-1 margin after three innings. But the Sachems demonstrated resilience and battled back to make a game of it, scoring twice in the top of the fifth inning and twice more in the seventh. Varsity returnee Cam Soroko had a strong opening day. He stroked three base hits, including two doubles, in four at bats and drove in a run. Nathan Soroko joined in by smacking two hits and tripling. He contributed an RBI as well. Cam Bernard, Jordan RoSaugus Head Coach Joe Luis will guide this year’s team that sports a young roster. driguez and Javier Cruz-Fuentes each scored a run, and Cam Soroko, who also stole a base, crossed the plate on two occasions to account for the Saugus runs. The Sachems didn’t help themselves defensively by committing five errors. Moving forward, Saugus played Northeast Metro Tech at home on Wednesday and remain at home on Friday to host Salem in an NEC battle. After that, the Sachems resume action next Wednesday, April 12, with a game at Masconomet.
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