Needing a win to stay alive in the Little League Softball U10 state tournament, Luccia Palmieri came up big on the mound and made sure her Peabody team would live to play another day.
Palmieri struck out a dozen batters without allowing a hit over five innings while Gianna Virgilio struck out three in the sixth inning to combine for a no-hitter as the District 16 champion Tanners hammered Scituate, 15-2, Wednesday at Kiley Field.
Catcher Aubrey Lagace led the Peabody offense with a double and a triple while also throwing out a Scituate baserunner. Ellie Solorzano, Avery Bryte, Lilah Poirier, Alexa Gagne and JuJu Dresser also chipped in with hits as every girl in the lineup reached base. Middle infielder Emma Feener had another stellar game defensively for the winners.
Peabody then defeated District 15 titlist Dudley, 10-0, in a late game Thursday night, improving to 2-1 in state tournament play.
They finish sectional play Saturday at Vermont Hill Field in Worcester against Westfield. The Tanners would need to emerge victorious in both contests for a spot in the state final Sunday morning back at Vernon Field.
12s
Peabody 5, Algonquin 0: Winning their third straight game in state tournament play, Peabody got a terrific pitching performance from Lily Sencabaugh to shut down their foes at Kiley Field. Normally a reliever, Sencabaugh got the start and pounded the strike zone all night, allowing just three hits and three walks while striking out two while her teammates played near-flawless softball in the field behind her.
Scoreless through three innings, Peabody got untracked in the bottom of the fourth inning when Riley Marshall reached on a single and scored on Gwen Murphy’s RBI triple. Shortstop Briella Lyons — who turned an unassisted double play defensively — then drove in Murphy with a run-scoring single. Later in the frame, Abigail Parsons scored to make it 3-0 Peabody.
In the fifth inning, the Tanners added to their lead when Mia Branco scored on a wild pitch and Kaley Cabral knocked in Lia DiNisco with a sacrifice fly.
Peabody returns to tournament action Saturday in Worcester against Longmeadow. The winner of that game will advance to Sunday’s state final against Jesse Burkett of Worcester.
JUNIORS
Peabody 8, Scituate 4: Olivia Palmieri threw a complete game seven-hitter with one earned run, one walk, one hit batsman and 11 strikeouts over seven innings to push the Peabody Junior all-star team to victory in their state tournament opener, 8-4, over host Scituate.
Sophia Pena went 3-for-3 to power the Peabody offense, driving in three runs. Janessa Fiste, Megan Foley, Maddie Nardone and Palmieri also hit safely for the Tanners, while Layla Santos had a sacrifice bunt to score another run. Foley and Pena were both defensive standouts in the victory as well.
Peabody is back in action Friday on the road against host Belchertown in a 6 p.m. start.