RallyNorth.net

First title since '88

Thursday, May, 21 By Michael Muldoon

Greater Lawrence downed Mystic Valley 19-12 Thursday in Malden to clinch the Commonwealth Conference Middle/Lower title. 
“I had one of the girls send me a video of the final out,” said 14th-year coach Jay Santomassino. “I sent it to the whole school showing the excitement. They couldn’t hold back. They were pretty excited. They see the banner up in the gym.”
Alyssa Melendez hit a 220-foot shot over the fence for a grand slam and Olivia Michaud also homered. Alyssia Scott was 4 for 5 and scored three runs as the Reggies cranked out 18 hits en route to improving to 13-4.
Santomassino said he’s conferred with Ernie Calverley, the longtime AD and former head/assistant softball coach, and that it was the Reggies’ first CAC title since the 1988 club won the overall CAC title.
Santomassino said it was an emotional day.
“(Co-captain) Kasandra Ayala last year as a junior blew out her knee in the second-to-last game so missed the tourney,” explained the coach. “For her to come out as a champ she was very happy and very emotional. There were some tears flowing. At this time last year didn’t know if she’d be playing again.”
An interesting side note, Reggie Hall of Famer Sandra Michaud Goulet starred for that championshiop team and her daughter, Alyssa is this year’s shortstop.
The 13 wins already is the second most by a Reggie team since the 1995 club went 17-4. The 2012 team went 14-8. This is Greater Lawrence’s second tourney-bound team since 2006. The 2012 club also played in States.
The Reggies take on CAC Upper champ Whittier next Friday in their regular-season finale.