MARBLEHEAD — Since only one runner had reached third base in the entire game, Marblehead High softball coach Johnny Gold knew he had to push the envelope when Tessa Francis delivered a single to lead off the bottom of the seventh inning of a scoreless game Wednesday afternoon.
Turning to pinch runner Kelian Salem proved prophetic. The speedster got a great jump to swipe second, then took third on a double steal with Kate Andriano (walk). With two outs and two strikes on the batter, Salem scooted home on a ball to the backstop and slid under the tag for the only run of a thrilling 1-0 win over Beverly at Veterans Field.
In unseasonably cold and blustery conditions, both Marblehead’s Tessa Francis and Beverly’s Lidia Miedema put the freeze on their opponents’ bats. Francis wound up with another shutout as she struck out nine with no walks in a 2-hitter that kept the Magicians perfect on the season at 6-0.
“I felt like I had to send her. I had to take a chance because in this weather, no one was going to get much of a hit,” Gold said of getting aggressive on the basepaths in the seventh. “This cold and wind? It just isn’t conducive to hitting.”
Indeed, two of the better teams on the North Shore combined for just four hits. Beverly (3-1) took its first loss of the season and got a fantastic effort in the circle from Miedema, who struck out seven and allowed just two hits as well.
The tall righty for the Panthers issued three walks in the first inning, but escaped unscathed with back-to-back gutsy strikeouts. Her only walk the rest of the way was intentional, and she put away 10 in a row and 17-of-18 in the middle innings.
“In terms of efficiency with first pitch strikes and not throwing a ton of balls, this was Lidia’s best game so far this year,” said Panthers head coach Megan Sudak. “At the end of the day, it was a great pitching battle. We know how good Tessa’s been, and we know we can’t win if we don’t score.”
Francis was overpowering at times and never allowed a Panther to advance past first base. She put away 14 straight between the first and sixth frames and was only dinged by hard-hit infield singles from Gabbi Wickeri and Ellie Campos. Marblehead’s catcher, Luka Bornhorst, cut down the latter trying to steal second.
“Tessa’s been that strong all season,” said Gold. “The way she works with Luka really brings out the best in both of them. They’re an outstanding combination.”
Shortstop Hailey Schmitt had Marblehead’s first hit and stole second in the third, but was stranded there.
Francis began the seventh inning rally by hitting a towering fly that found grass just inside the foul line in shallow left. Beverly nearly escaped, but with the Magicians down to their final strike before extra innings Salem found a way to score.
“We hit some balls hard and Marblehead’s defense was outstanding. You have to give them credit and tip your hat,” Sudak said. “It should be a one-run game between our teams, and it’s 100 percent going to be a dog fight every time we play.”