Sports
Benvenuto, Redmen Beat Billerica, 11-5
TMHS softball team runs winning streak to three straight.
When talks about this being a rebuilding year, he may be right. Sort of.
So far this season, the only thing the Redmen have rebuilt is their reputation for being the top softball program in the Merrimack Valley Conference over the last decade.
On Wednesday, Tewksbury continued its surprisingly strong start to the 2011 season by trouncing Billerica, 11-5, to run its record to 4-1 overall, 2-1 in the MVC.
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earned her fourth victory of the season, tossing six innings of three-hit ball while striking out six and walking only one.
Benvenuto held Billerica off the scoreboard for the first four innings of the game, while the Redmen built a 7-0 lead.
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"Kayla has been an unbelievable surprise, really," said DiRocco. "For her it's just a matter of getting the ball over the plate. We have a really good defense so if she can stay away from walks like she did today, we'll be in every ball game."
Benvenuto didn't even have to be in top form in this one, as the Tewksbury offense cranked out 11 runs on 13 hits. led the way with three hits, including a double, and senior left fielder Ally Greene had two hits and two runs batted in.
The TMHS youngsters continued to contribute as freshman Brooke Hardy had a hit and drove in two runs, sophomore Tiffany Marsh had two hits and one RBI, freshman Shannon McLaughlin had two hits and one RBI and freshman Chelsee Porcaro had a double.
Both Benvenuto and junior third baseman Katie Doherty had a hit and drove in a run.
Shannon McLaughlin relieved Benvenuto after six innings and pitched the Billerica seventh.
"We got the bat on the ball and we got into it a little bit with the small ball," DiRocco said. "We came out and had them off balance all afternoon."
With the first quarter of the season now under their belt, the Redmen are beginning to look like the team that won nine MVC divisional titles between 1999 and 2009.
"We're thrilled with the way the girls are playing," DiRocco said. "It'll be a great week if we can beat Andover tomorrow."
The Redmen complete a run of three games in three days with a game at Andover at 11 a.m. Thursday morning.
