Sports
U12 Mariners Tie Pentucket
In a game that came right down to the wire, the U12 Marblehead Mariners tied the Pentucket River Dogs 11-11.
It was a game that teetered back-and-forth, but in the end the score was knotted at 11-11 in the contest between the U12 Marblehead Mariners and the Pentucket River Dogs at Veterans School on Thursday night.
Pentucket started off the scoring with two runs in the top of the first inning, as Ali Carney and Kelly Murray both scored on RBI-singles from Nikki O'Rourke and Erica Warner respectively. Warner was able to keep Marblehead off the scoreboard in the bottom of the first, as she struck out the first two batters she faced.
Pentucket was able to put up two more runs in the top of the second as Laura Hardenstine singled then scored on a Corie Lucier infield hit. Jordan Nicosia also scored, after she walked and rounded the diamond by way of a stolen base and an over-thrown ball at first. This put the River Dogs on top of the Mariners 4-0.
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Marblehead was able to respond to Pentucket's scoring trend in the bottom of the second, as they earned six runs and took the lead away from the visitors. Emily Trasher started off the inning with a walk, and quickly found herself on third base due to consecutive passed balls.
Emily Promise followed Trasher with a walk, and she then advanced to second on an uncontested steal. The Mariners took full advantage of the situation, with two runners in scoring position and no outs, when Emily Tejada and Paige Vigneron both produced RBI-singles.
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After Carly Shea walked to load the bases, Tejada made a heads-up decision on third base and stole home on a passed ball thrown by Pentucket's Warner. Nicole Frevold brought home Vigneron with a sacrifice grounder to first base, which was followed by a single from Jessie Pearce.
Ally Hopkins ended the inning with a two-RBI single, which brought the Mariners up to the six-run limit for a single inning. This offensive outburst put the home team on top 6-4.
Promise was able to keep the Mariners in the lead, as she held the River Dogs scoreless for the next three innings, including a quick 1-2-3 fifth that included a great catch by Pearce in right-centerfield.
During this time, Marblehead extended their lead to as much as six runs, as they scored two in the third and one run in the fourth and fifth innings.
In the third, Anna Cloutman hit a single, took second and third on passed balls, then scored after Samantha Payne hit a sacrifice grounder to the shortstop. Trasher also scored in the third, after she singled and was advanced by Promise.
In the fourth inning, Cloutman brought home Pearce with an infield hit that was misplayed by the first baseman. An RBI-double from Vigneron in the fifth scored Promise, and stretched the score to 10-4 in favor of the home team.
Pentucket rebounded in the top of the sixth inning, scoring three runs as Maddie Binding, Sarah Steele, and Carney crossed the plate. Carney, Murray, and Sarah Stewart had RBI's in the inning. The rally was cut short by another great catch in right-center, as Vigneron pulled in the ball this time.
The Mariners put another run on the board in the bottom of the sixth, bringing the score to 11-7, when Hopkins singled and was brought home by an Emily Trasher RBI-double.
Things fell apart for Marblehead pitching in the top of the seventh inning, as Promise lost command of the ball and walked five batters, which plated three runs for Pentucket. Steele completed the rally for the River Dogs with an infield RBI that tied the game up at 11.
Stewart, who was celebrating her 12th birthday, was able to hold the Mariners scoreless in the bottom of the seventh and secure the tie for her team. She pitched very well for Pentucket, throwing four strikeouts in four and two-thirds innings.
Promise pitched a complete game for Marblehead, striking out three batters while allowing eight hits and nine walks.
The Mariners next game is against the Georgetown Gales on August 3 at Georgetown Middle/High School. Their next home game in on August 4 against the Georgetown Royals at Marblehead High School. Both games start at 6:15 p.m.
