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Page 14 THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, JUNE 17, 2022 Three Saugus players receive NEC all-star recognition C By Greg Phipps oncluding a better-than-expected 2022 campaign, the Saugus High School softball team had three players named to this year’s Northeastern Conference (NEC) all-star team. Third baseman Felicia Reppucci led the way by being selected as a fi rst-teamer. Joining Reppucci were pitcher Fallon Millerick and second baseman Ryann Moloney, who each made the second team. The Sachems exceeded expectations by going 14-8 overall and notching a Div. 3 playoff win. They went 12-4 after opening the season 1-3 and then celebrated a 27thseed selection in the playoff s by rolling to a 13-1 preliminary-round win over 38th seeded Belchertown. A loss at No. 6 Austin Prep in the Round of 32 closed out the season. Reppucci, who played a solid third base all season, ended up with one of Saugus’s two hits in that defeat. She came up big by doubling in two runs in the win over Belchertown. Reppucci also fi nished the regular season by smacking three hits, including a double and a triple, in a win over Marblehead. Millerick won 13 games on the mound, including a couple of clutch, low-scoring victories over Masconomet (32) and Melrose (2-0) down the stretch. She gave up just the one run on five hits in the playoff win over Belchertown. Millerick also helped her own cause on offense Pitcher Fallon Millerick was a Northeastern Conference all-star pick in 2022. throughout the season, including going 2-for-3 in the regular-season fi nale against Marblehead. Moloney made her presence felt with solid defensive play throughout the season. Two Sachems named to NEC all-star squad By Greg Phipps C oming off the second straight season in which it experienced some postseason success, the Saugus High School Baseball Team also had two players make this year’s Northeastern Conference (NEC) all-star team. Pitcher and infi elder Nathan Ing was named to the fi rst team, while fi rst baseman Ryan Anderson was selected to the squad as well. Ing tossed a shutout gem in the fi nal regular-season victory over Everett — a win that helped the Sachems gain a berth in the Div. 3 tournament. By Mark E. Vogler S electmen interviewed two of the four candidates who applied for the vacancy on the Zoning Board of Appeals during a brief session prior to Tuesday (June 14) night’s meeting of the Board of Selectmen. Their future decision became a little easier after learning that the two candidates, who each have the support from a pair of selectmen, are flexible in what roles they would be willing to play on the next ZBA. Former ZBA Chair Ben Sturniolo, a 25-year veteran of the board who resigned several months ago for family-related reasons before expressing an interest to He gave up just one hit in that game. Ing would proceed to hurl seven no-hit innings, with 11 strikeouts, in a 6-5 preliminary-round playoff win over Martha’s Vineyard. Off ensively, Ing drove in four runs in the regular-season fi - nale against Everett and followed that up by belting two hits, including a home run, in a tough 6-5 loss at Foxborough in the postseason Round of 32. The Sachems owned a 5-4 lead entering the bottom half of the seventh inning against fi fth-seeded Foxborough, but back-to-back solo homers resulted in a walk-off victory for the hosts. Second baseman Ryann Moloney was selected to the Northeastern Conference all-star team in 2022. Third baseman Felicia Reppucci made the fi rst team all-Northeastern Conference squad in 2022. Peabody’s Abby Bettencourt was named this year’s NEC Most Valuable Player. She contributed with the bat as well. She had a hit in the Marblehead victory and produced a big 4-for-4 performance against Danvers late in the season. For his part, Anderson played a solid first base during the season and came alive off ensively with some strong performances down the stretch. He stroked two hits and drove in two in the Martha’s Vineyard win and had two hits and an RBI against Foxborough. As a team, the Sachems, who were the 28th seed in the tourney, fi nished 11-11 overall and needed two straight regular-season victories over Everett to qualify for the tourney. They struggled in NEC play, but having a formidable regular-season schedule made them a tougher out than their tournament seeding and rePitcher and infielder Nathan Ing was named a fi rst team all-Northeastern Conference player in 2022. cord indicated. Saugus came just one inning shy of being a member of the fi nal 16 teams in the tournament. ZBA Vacancy Selectmen interview two candidates for appeals board position — including the chair who resigned several months ago return, told selectmen that his interest in serving again didn’t hinge on whether he was chair. Meanwhile, ZBA alternate Robert Northrop said he would be willing to stay on as an alternate if he failed to get appointed as a permanent member. Selectmen still have to interview Precinct 2 Town Meeting Member Christopher P. Riley at a meeting later this month. His wife — Selectman Corinne Riley — has abstained from the decision to pick the next ZBA member after citing a potential confl ict of interests. Leo Fonseca, another candidate who responded to the ZBA vacancy posting, “backed out,” leaving it a fi eld of three candidates. The Board of Appeals holds public hearings and acts on applications for Special Permits, Variances and Comprehensive Permits. Most Board of Appeals hearings are for Special Permit applications for residential or business uses not allowed by right. Under normal circumstances, selectmen would have reappointed Sturniolo to the board because of his lengthy service record. Earlier this year, Sturniolo submitted his resignation because of personal demands on him to take care of a disabled sister and his mother. But after hiring somebody to care for his mother, Sturniolo decided he had time to serve again and applied for the ZBA vacancy which selectmen advertised. That scenario put selectmen in an awkward position, according to Selectman Jeff rey Cicolini. “We’re out here, begging people to step up and First baseman Ryan Anderson was selected to the Northeastern Conference all-star team in 2022. Danvers pitcher Joe Zamejtis was named Northeastern Conference Most Valuable Player for 2022. get new people involved,” Cicolini said. “I just worry about the message we’re sending. We advertised before you reapplied. Now, we’re interviewing people for a position,” he told Sturniolo. Cicolini and Cogliano cast the two votes against the appointment of Sturniolo during the May 24 meeting of the Board of Selectmen. Selectmen Debra Panetta and Michael Serino voted for Sturniolo on the motion that failed 2-2. Cicolini and Cogliano then voted to back the appointment of Northrop to be a permanent member. But that motion also failed on a 2-2 vote when Panetta and Serino opposed Northrop’s appointment.

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