RallyNorth.net

Kiara Amos did not allow a Raider past second base and struck out eight to lead Malden to the Division 1 North semifinal victory over Central Catholic.

Ally Cavanaugh had two of Central's four singles while Karoline Leavitt and Brittney Hall each had one. After a tough first inning in which she allowed three runs on three hits and a pair of walks, freshman Olivia Antczak settled down and retired 12 of the following 13 batters before giving up a final run in the seventh.

On back-to-back pitches, Karoline Leavitt drove a triple and scored on Krista Maloney's bloop single in the ninth inning as Central Catholic came back for a walk-off 2-1 quarterfinal win over Lowell.

The Central Catholic softball team (17-4) wrapped up a terrific regular season, during which it won the MVC DIvision 1 title.and tuned up for the state tournament by defeating Lexington 6-3. Alex Borrelli was 3 for 3 with three RBIs and Krista Maloney was 2 for 4 and scored twice to pace the offense.

Leslie Moore homered for Central Catholic and Josie Sanchez homered for Whittier, but the Raiders had the upper hand in an 8-5 Central win.

Leslie Moore homered for Central Catholic and Josie Sanchez homered for Whittier, but the Raiders had the upper hand in an 8-5 Central win.

Central Catholic's softball team lost a pitching duel with Dracut, 2-1 in eight innings. Lauren Ramirez thew a two-hitter for Dracut (16-1), striking out eight and also had an RBI, while losing pitcher Olivia Antczak gave up just five hits.

Central Catholic freshman Olivia Antczak won a pitching duel with Chelmsford ace Meghan Rich as the Raiders (10-1) qualified for the tournament by defeating the Lions 3-1.Antczak also had two hits, including a triple, and drove in a run.

With just one hit going into the seventh inning, Andover tied the game when Mimi Olney doubled and scored on a double-steal with Jordan Day to send the game into overtime. But Central Catholic fought back when winning pitcher Olivia Antczak singled, move to third and scored on a single by Leslie Moore for a walkoff 2-1 win in nine innings.

Freshman Olivia Antczak improved to 8-1 on the mound, firing a complete game and allowing three runs on six hits. Central softball won 6-3.

Brittney Hall, Kelly Michal and Karoline Leavitt drove in two runs each. 

Central Catholic, the fourth-ranked team in the state, beat Methuen 3-2 in nine innings when winning pitcher Olivia Antczak (6-hitter, 15 K's) scored Nicole Howe on a deep sacrifice fly to left. Chrissy Scionti was brilliant in defeat, firing a four-hitter and holding the Raiders hitless through four innings.