RallyNorth.net

LOWELL — Central Catholic will never forget the stunning win over Newton North to get to the Div. 1 North semifinals, the first time ever a 25th seed knocked off the No. 1 seed.

But Central would like to forget the fourth inning yesterday against Medford.

They are wearing stylish corn rows in their hair, wielding red-hot bats at the plate and loving life 24/7. But the magic numbers Tuesday weren't 24 and 7 but 25-1. As in No. 25 Central Catholic stunned No. 1 Newton North, 8-4, in the Division 1 North quarterfinals. Trailing 3-1 after four innings in Newton, Central had two out in the fifth before catching fire. Madison Borrelli singled, winning pitcher Olivia Antzcak (5-hitter, 4 strikeouts) singled and Karoline Leavitt (3 hits) tied it with a triple. Bella Jankowski reached on an error and Leila Camplese homered over the fence in left to make it 5-3. Are they the ultimate Cinderella team? Raiders coach Stacy Ciccolo said, "We never felt like a true No. 25. We had a pretty tough schedule with (perennial Maine power Scarborough twice in Florida), Reading, Newton South and North Reading. It's been a struggle. It's been a very difficult year." From floundering to seven straight wins including yesterday's historic upset. As Ciccolo said over the telephone, "We thought we might be done weeks ago." Indeed, the Raiders (13-10) were left for dead at 1-5 and most certainly at 6-10. Central Catholic won its final four straight just to eke out a tourney berth.

The cliche is that the postseason is a new season. Central believes it. Newton North, which finished up 19-3, does, too.

Every once in a great while a No. 25 team will beat a No. 1 seed. And when it does happen, generally it might be a No. 1 club from a Boston City League team which has faced extremely limited competition.

But a formidable program like Newton North, which lost in the North finals each of the last two years (in 2013 to Central)?

Central Catholic's softball team lept its cinderella run alive Saturday night with a 1-0 Division 1 North win over Lynn Classical. The Raiders, who won their last four games to make the tournament, won their second straight as Olivia Antczak and Eve Walker combined on a three-hitter. Courtney Woranka (2 for 3) scored the Raiders' lone run in the second inning on an error.

Central Catholic's softball team, which won its last four games to make the tournament, remained hot, upsetting No. 8 seed Lexington 9-1. Sophomore Niamh Walker got the win, filling in for Olivia Antczak, who was hit hard by a wild overthrow before the game but came back to play right field and go 2 for 2. Haley Andrade had an 2-RBI triple in the fifth and three RBIs and Bella Jankowski was 2 for 5 with two runs scored and an RBI.

The Central Catholic softball team completed its improbable late season comeback on Tuesday, beating Haverhill 6-1 to finish the season 10-10 and earn a spot in the state tournament. Hailey Cockcroft went 2-for-3 with 2 RBIs and Haley Andrade drove in two runs in her lone at bat to help lead the Raiders' offense. 

The Central Catholic softball team completed its improbable late season comeback on Tuesday, beating Haverhill 6-1 to finish the season 10-10 and earn a spot in the state tournament. Hailey Cockcroft went 2-for-3 with 2 RBIs and Haley Andrade drove in two runs in her lone at bat to help lead the Raiders' offense. 

Karoline Leavitt broke things open with a three-run homer in the sixth inning, lifting Central Catholic in a 5-1 win over Acton-Boxboro.

Molly Hamel hits a bases-clearing double with two outs in the third to break the game open and had five RBIs overall as Central Catholic's softball team (7-10) kept its playoff hopes alive with a 12-2 victory over Billerica.

Central Catholic's softball has struggled with runners on base this year, but not Friday in a 9-8 win over Dracut. Olivia Antczak had a grand slam homer in the fourth and Courtney Woronka had a two-run single in the bottom of the ninth for the winning runs.

LAWRENCE — If you're looking for a blueprint to softball success, check out this year's squad at Methuen. Yesterday afternoon, the Rangers once again displayed the efficiency required to stay perfect on the season: good pitching, solid defense and timely hitting.

Utilizing those basics Methuen rode off with a 3-0 Merrimack Valley Conference victory over Central Catholic. It was the fifth shutout posted by the Rangers in 14 outings, the seventh time they allowed one run or fewer and the 11th allowing two or fewer.

"I looked at our team last year (that went 17-5), and you could see the potential," said winning pitcher Kayleigh Forgetta, who ran her record to 13-0. "The fact we've actually pushed through and gotten here is amazing. I really couldn't have pictured it any better for my senior season."

While Forgetta and her mates were holding off the Central attack, Maddie Adames was ensuring the effort would hold up.

After being called out on strikes her first time through the order, the senior second baseman gave Methuen a 1-0 lead in the fourth with a single that drove in Kelly Blackwell, who had walked. Adames supplied breathing space in the sixth, blasting a double to the right-field alley that plated Kat LeFebre, who had singled, and Nina Correia, who reached via fielder's choice. Those were the only two innings the Rangers had more than one batter reach base.

"It's tough striking out your first at bat, but you just have to come back strong the second time," Adames said. "The (third) time up, I just wanted to get another hit and help us score. I was just looking for a little hit, not a big one. Being ahead (3-0) is a different ball game."

The Ranger defense came through early and often with double plays the first two innings. With none out in the first, third baseman Blackwell started Methuen's first one on a line drive. Right fielder Amanda Conway came up big with none out and the bases loaded in the second, catching a fly then nailing Karoline Leavitt at the plate. Blackwell ended the threat, snagging another line drive.

Center fielder Coralie Mathieu made every out on fly balls in the fourth, including the final two with the bases loaded once again.

Conway also ended the game on a diving catch with a runner on first.

"We have such a solid defense behind me," said Forgetta, who struck out two and walked one. "I have no doubt in my mind every time I pitch the ball that whatever hit it's going to be, that (the defense) is going to get it. They are absolutely amazing behind me. It's a lot of relief."

Central also played to season form as the Raiders (5-8) stranded eight runners. Leavitt went 3 for 3, but besides being thrown out at home also was left at third in the fourth. Leadoff batter Hailey Cockroft also rapped a couple singles.

"I would say that today was very typical of the season," CC coach Stacy Ciccolo said. "I think we have just not been able to produce when we need to. We've tried multiple combinations in the batting order, and we just can't get kids to buckle down and produce when we have runners in scoring position."