With nine games played and nine left in the season the Headers are off to an 8 – 1 start and leading their division. The past week put the ladies to the test as they faced two great teams, the Salem Tornados and Swampscott Hurricanes.
Due to senior prom family commitments the Headers went into Mack Park in Salem to face the Tornado down a catcher, second base lady, power hitter and two coaches. The ladies played a near perfect game and battled the Salem team depleting the ice-pack reserve to come out on top 7 - 4. In similar fashion the Headers faced another tough team Sunday. The Hurricanes are extremely well coached and a very talented group of young ladies. The Hurricanes had the Headers on the ropes with home field advantage and after 7 innings the score was tied 4-4. The Headers dug deep and scored three runs in the top of the 8th. Frankie Simon (pictured above on the mound) pitched amazingly well in the bottom of the inning to preserve the lead and earn the win. Frankie has had a great first half of the season coming up with clutch performances when needed most. The Joyce ladies, Montana and McKenzie are also doing an amazing job and are in part responsible for the win against Salem with stellar efforts catching and at the mound respectively. One of the “crowd favorites” is Anna Cloutman who continues to find a way to make plays that don’t seem possible. Billie Jacobs, Marisa Massaro and Anastasia Vainas have proven themselves to be stealing machines over the last nine games! Justy Needle, one of the power hitters mentioned above, continues to pick out the right pitch and drive the ball. Also, pictured above on third is Sara Bornstein who has denied nearly every bunt attempted, by exploding to the ball and gunning down the runners as they try to beat out the throw to first. Delia Smith was instrumental in both games this past week coming up big on both offense and defense. Last but not least is Meghan Tierney who cranked up her skills as catcher Sunday with amazing throws to second and third, making runners second-guess their decision to advance.
