Lexington Softball Overcomes Central Catholic

LOWELL – Whether it was black magic or old-fashioned bad luck, something was conspiring against Lexington High School's softball team in the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association (MIAA) Division I North semifinals.

First, the start of the twelfth-seeded Minutemen's game against top-seeded Central Catholic was delayed 1 hour, 15 minutes after rain pushed back the start of the preceding Division II North semifinal game at Martin Field.

Play was then halted when the rain picked up in the top of the third inning. The game resumed 20 minutes later, but was stopped again for 10 minutes in the fifth inning when two light towers went dark.

To top it off, Lexington blew a seven-run lead when the Raiders scored three in the fifth inning and four more in the sixth.

But somehow, the two-time defending state champion Minutemen kept their heads in the game and came away with an 8-7 victory before about 250 drenched and exasperated fans.

"Some one was like, 'Can anything else possibly go wrong? They don't want us to win,'" Lexington senior catcher Alyssa Zahka said, of the delay for the lights going out. "I think we pulled through and just stayed really focused the whole game."

The Minutemen will return to Lowell on Saturday in search of their third-straight sectional title. An opponent will be determined tonight when No. 2 Concord-Carlisle takes on No. 3 Acton-Boxboro at Martin Field – barring more inclement weather and other natural phenomena, of course.

Sophomore first baseman Christine Barons drove in the go-ahead run in the top of the seventh inning, and freshman Rebecca Hoffman closed the door on Central Catholic in the bottom of the frame.

The latter relieved sophomore starter Danielle DelGreco (5 1/3IP, 7R, 5K) with the bases loaded in the sixth after DelGreco walked in a run to cut Lexington's lead to 7-4. Hoffman allowed the inherited baserunners to score on a three-run triple to left-center by Kayla Maloney that tied the game.

Even that didn't derail Lexington.

The Minutemen came back in the top of the seventh and Zahka (2 for 3, walk, RBI) led off with a single up the middle. She stole second and came around on Barons' only hit of the game.

"I love this team, every single player," Zahka said. "We just stayed together the whole time. It's definitely a team effort."

The game was just shy of three hours old when the final out was recorded. It started at 8:15 p.m., was stopped for the rain delay at 8:45, restarted at 9:05, was delayed again at 9:55 and finally finished up at 10:45.

Coach Frank Pagliuca wouldn't go so far as to say his team was cursed, but was pleased with how it overcame the adversity.

"Where do you want to start?'' he jokingly asked. "Lights go out, rain delay; it wasn't the prettiest game on both sides, but what a fun game to be involved in.''

At first, the delays didn't seem to bother the Minutemen. They got on the scoreboard with two runs in the second inning on an error by Central Catholic catcher Kelly Michal. DelGreco started the inning with a single and moved to third on twin sister Katy's double to left field.

Both scored when Michal couldn't handle a throw at the plate on a groundball by sophomore Catherine Costello (reached base three times on two walks and a fielder's choice).

Lexington then came out firing after the rain delay to increase its lead to 5-0. Danielle and Katy DelGrecos plated a run each with sacrifice flies and senior Stephanie Silva, who reached on a single, scored on a wild pitch.

In the fifth inning – before the lights went dark – the Minutemen added a pair of runs on a Zahka double and Katy DelGreco (2 for 3 with a double) single.

"They stayed focused and they were great," Pagliuca said. "It's a credit to these kids to stay mentally tough."

When the lights came back on it was time for Central Catholic to shine. The Raiders' three runs in the fifth came on a two-run double by Michal and a wild pitch.

Two walks and an error on Lexington senior shortstop Alicia DiFronzo loaded the bases for Central in the sixth. Danielle DelGreco then walked in a run before Pagliuca turned to Hoffman.

She settled down in the seventh, putting the side away in order with two strikeouts and a groundout, to pick up the win.