Crovo’s 3 run HR helps Melrose top playoff foe Burlington, 6-5
SOPHOMORE HURLER Jill Stone went the distance in Melrose’s 6-5 victory over Burlington on Monday. (Donna Larsson photo)
Published in the April 28, 2017 edition
By JENNIFER GENTILE
MELROSE—The Melrose Lady Raider softball team earned payback when they beat league rival Burlington, 6-5, in 7 innings at Pine Banks Park in Melrose on Monday, April 24. Melrose senior captain Victoria Crovo’s 3-run homer in the first inning proved to be a game changer, helping to produce an extra sweet win for Melrose, who beat a team that has eliminated Melrose in back-to-back playoff appearances in 2015 and 2016. With the win, Melrose improves to 3-2 on the season.
Melrose hurler Jill Stone got the win on the mound while Josephine Andruszkiewicz picked up a save. Overall, Melrose scattered just four hits in seven innings.The effort pleased coach Steve Wall, who noted Melrose and Burlington’s long history. “Having played them three times last year, and three times before that, this is a very familiar team, and we play similar each time, so it’s certainly nice to walk out today winners,” he said.
Melrose bats wasted no time on Burlington hurler Kaitlyn Campbell. After Melrose’s Stone retired the side at the start of the game, Campbell walked Melrose’s top two batters, Rachel Pfeiffer and Saoirse Connolly. Melrose’s third batter, senior captain Victoria Crovo, scored the two on a monster 3 run homer, a shot that sailed over the head of the Burlington center fielder, and produced an in-the-park dinger that scored Connolly, Pfeiffer and Crovo, which gave Melrose a nice 3-0 cushion to start the game.
Stone kept Red Devil bats quiet until Burlington got on the board in the 3rd when they scored one run and then tied it up in the 5th. A pass ball gave Burlington a brief 4-3 advantage before Melrose Sam Farrell knocked in two runs with a triple that made it a 5-3 game. Burlington would cross the plate twice more before Melrose’s Colette Skinner hit a RBI to help make it a 6-5 game.
“Jill pitched solid, just an overall scattering of hits,” says her coach. “We got in a jam a few times but were able to pull out of it.”
Melrose remains in the heart of their Freedom League schedule with games against Wakefield (Wed, post deadline) and Wilmington (Thursday, post deadline) on the horizon. Melrose will host Stoneham on Monday, May 1 at Pine Banks at 3:45 p.m.
