Page 4 THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FriDAy, MAy 8, 2026 ~ SHS Sachems Sports roundup ~ Saugus baseball, softball battle through midseason push as lacrosse programs gain momentum By Dom Nicastro A s the spring season hits a critical stretch, Saugus baseball and softball continue to carry the load with competitive efforts, while both lacrosse programs are building momentum in their own ways as postseason hopes to begin to take shape. BASEBALL SEARCHING FOR ANSWERS, LEANING ON LEADERSHIP Saugus baseball continues to grind through a challenging stretch, dropping its third straight game in a 10-5 loss to Winthrop. Despite the result, 50 there were encouraging signs offensively, as Brayden Crawford, Nathan Soroko and Garret Peavey each went 2-for-3 to pace the Sachems lineup. Crawford added a double as part of his strong day at the plate. Jordan Rodriguez took the loss on the mound, while Eli Fialho provided valuable relief, working 5 1/3 innings to keep Saugus within striking distance. Head Coach Mike Mabee pointed to self-inflicted issues as a key factor in the recent skid. “We’ve been beating ourselves allowing free bases on defense and digging a hole for ourselves early in games, and we haven’t been able to climb back,” Mabee said. Still, the coach emphasized the team’s belief and leadership as it looks to turn things around. “Our leaders have been working harder than ever to right the ship, and we’re riding their work,” Mabee said. C r awford continues to be a central figure, contributing both on the mound and at the plate, while Soroko remains a steady presence behind the plate, helping control the tempo of games. “Nathan Soroko keeps the pace behind the dish and is a constant, keeping the energy up,” Mabee said. Fialho is also emerging as a key contributor, with Mabee noting the sophomore is “finding his stride at the plate and has a couple multi-hit games,” while senior captain Chris Mazin continues to lead in the outfield and is “finding his stride in the batter’s box of late.” Despite the recent losses, Mabee made it clear the path forward remains in Saugus’ control. “We have a path to the tourney, and it’s in our control,” he said. “We’ve taken some blows but we’re learning from the bad, building on the good, and looking to go 1-0 every day.” Saugus looks to regroup quickly as it hosts Gloucester in its next NEC matchup. SOFTBALL EXPLODES AGAINST LYNN TECH, STAYS IN TOURNAMENT HUNT Saugus softball continues to push toward tournament contention, using a dominant 16-0 win over Lynn Tech to highlight another week of steady progress. The Sachems, now sitting at 6-6, know the margin for error is slim as they aim for a postseason berth. “This is crunch time now, and we are going to have to start making a move if we have any hopes of making the tournament,” Head Coach Steve Almquist said. Against Lynn Tech, Saugus wasted no time taking control, scoring seven runs in the first inning without recording a hit, capitalizing on five walks and several errors. “We were fortunate enough to be able to capitalize,” Almquist said. The offense added to the lead in the second inning behind RBI singles from Sofia McCarrier and Maria Silva before eighth grader Hannah Strout delivered one of the biggest swings of the game, crushing a triple to deep left field to drive in two runs. The Sachems kept the pressure on in the fourth inning, scoring five more runs. One of the highlights came from senior Lani Perez, who returned from injury and made an immediate impact. “In her first varsity at bat, she recorded her first varsity hit and RBI … what a great way to acclimate herself to the lineup,” Almquist said. McCarrier handled the rest, tossing a five-inning shutout with eight strikeouts to earn her first shutout victory of ROUNDUP | SEE PAGE 5 Spring is Here! 10 Everett Ave., Everett 617-389-3839 Celebrating 67 Years in Business! n Roofing fng
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