THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FriDAy, MAy 3, 2024 Page 11 Surging Sachems: Saugus baseball already way ahead of last season By Dom Nicastro T he Saugus High School baseball team, led by Coach Joe Luis, is making significant strides in the current season. After nine games, the Sachems sport a 6-3 record. Recent wins against English (8-6) and Swampscott (3-0) not only bolstered their record but also demonstrated their strategic depth and execution under pressure. Saugus also only committed one error between those two games, showing marked improvement from the prior games where errors arguably cost them a couple of losses. Cam Soroko did the job against Swampscott, shutting down the Big Blue in a complete-game, 10-strikeout, two-walk three-hitter. The ace has been mowing DOG PARK| FROM PAGE 10 er was the best location for a dog park. Meanwhile, much of Monday’s public testimony focused on public concerns that Stocker is not a good location for a dog park. Lisa Lavargna testified about her concerns of the potential impact of dogs on wildlife in the Stocker area. “The presence of dogs causes wildlife to move away, temporarily or permanently reducing the amount of available habitat in which to feed, breed and rest,” Lavargna said. “Animals become less active during the day avoiding the dogs. The scent of dogs repels wildlife and the down opponents all season and is a big reason why the Sachems, at the halfway point of the 2024 season, are already two games above their entire win total for the 2023 season. “We’re definitely focusing more on pitch to pitch, out to out, inning to inning and taking it that way,” Luis said. “Looking at OK, the first ball of the game is not gonna make or break the game, which is how they played defense last year. … Let’s just play every batter as its own game and just win that defensive side with each batter, get each out and make the routine play. And then same thing with hitting. We’re definitely practicing a little bit more too on the hitting aspect of it with practice.” Soroko helped himself with a 1-for-4 day at the plate and effects remain after the dogs are gone,” she said. Lavargna cited an April 2016 study by Metro Parks and Nature, which she said showed that dogs’ negative impact on wildlife is overwhelming. Kim Calla, of 7 Stocker St., was one of several residents whose property abuts Stocker who spoke in opposition to a dog park at Stocker. “I support a dog park in our town, but not at Stocker,” Calla said. “The playground needs TLC and upgrades,” she said. Calla complained that “not one abutter was contacted” by town officials considering the Stocker plan. Selectman Jeff Cicolini, who is a member of the dog park committee, said the a run scored. Connor Bloom and Danny Zeitz each added two hits and an RBI, and Shane Bourque and Jordan Rodriguez had hits. Saugus led, 2-0, after an inning. “We scored early in the first to kind of make the difference, set the tone for the rest of the game,” said Luis. In the Lynn English game, Saugus had 10 stolen bases. On the season, the team has stolen 36 bases in 37 tries, an extraordinary advantage and amazing success percentage on the base paths. This exploitation of the opposing pitchers’ and catchers’ vulnerabilities underscores Saugus’s focus on keen observation and quick adaptation to in-game dynamics. “We don’t just automatically go (and steal),” Luis said. “We pick and choose when neighbors wouldstill have a baseball field and a playground – both of them substantially upgraded. “We reviewed 12 areas,” he noted, adding that no final decision has been made. Scott Vandiver, of 2 Wakefield Ave., said he thinks the proposal would be a vast improvement for the area, which features a rundown basketball court and tennis court. “That park is used for two things – smoking weed and having sex,” Vandiver said. Crabtree expressed frustration several times at Monday’s hearing that some residents were hogging the speaking time, thus discouraging others who wanted to speak. we do go. We try to obviously go when a pitcher has a big leg kick or curveball count. If a pitcher is giving one look to the plate, we’ll go. So, speed has helped us a lot this year.” Cam Bernard had a fine – and interesting – day on the mound in the Lynn English win. He started the game, going four innings of no-hit ball while striking out five. He was relieved, but Saugus started to give away a big lead. So, Luis put Bernard back in the game on the mound to close things out. He pitched one more inning to get what may be on the official books a win and a save. “I marked it down as that,” Luis said. “I think it is official. We might have a story here.” Zeitz was solid in relief, too, getting one crucial out. Bloom had another two hits and two RBI against Lynn English and added two runs. Zietz, Bourque (two RBI), Rodriguez and Tyler Riley added hits. Looking forward, Coach Luis is cautiously optimistic about the team’s improved defensive capabilities, a critical aspect that cost them in previous games. This focus on defense aligns with their broader strategy to strengthen all aspects of play, ensuring that the team remains competitive in upcoming games and beyond. Clinic at the animal shelter tomorrow No time for procrastination; get your dog or cat a vaccination By Joan Allbee M ay rolls over as swiftly as a dog, flipping on its back and looking for a belly rub. But it’s time to think about Rabies Vaccinations for our dogs and cats as they frolic about outside. From 10 a.m. to noon tomorrow (Saturday, May 4), Saugus is providing a lowcost vaccination event for your pets at the Animal Shelter in the rear of the DPW Building at 515 Rear Main St. in Saugus. Rabies vaccination for dogs and cats will cost $10 – cash or check only. TAKING FEEDBACK: Town Manager Scott Crabtree joined members of the citizen dog park committee at a public forum on Monday night in the second floor auditorium at Saugus Town Hall. (Saugus Advocate photo by Mark E. Vogler) TREATS FOR CALICO CALLIE: Debbie Elliott cratetrained spunky Callie, her feisty two-year-old calico tabby mixedbreed cat, to ensure a smooth trip to tomorrow’s vaccination clinic at the Animal Shelter. Callie is Debbie’s shelter rescue and together they share love and camaraderie. Debbie celebrated on April 2 her one year Anniversary with Callie. (Courtesy Photo to The Saugus Advocate by Joanie Allbee)
12 Publizr Home