By Lorenzo Recupero
For the second consecutive season, the Crimson Tide were dropped from the MIAA Division 1 State Tournament at the hands of Concord-Carlisle High School.
The 2-1 preliminary round loss Friday at Concord ended a strong season for longtime head coach Stacy Poste-Schiavo and the Lady Tide, who ended the year 15-5 overall and Greater Boston League Co-Champions.
C-C outlasted the Tide, 8-6, in last year’s Div.1 North Sectional as well.
“This was a tough one because defensively our girls played amazing. Offensively, we just could not get the hits,” said Poste-Schiavo on the stinging loss.
The Tide had a chance late in the game to tie when Bryanna Mason reached first on a 2-out single in the 7th inning but could not muster more hits to bring her round to score.
“We practiced all week with the batting cages and just couldn’t get the hits when we needed them. [Losing] 2-1 is a lot harder to swallow than 10-0. We knew this team was beatable, so losing by 1 hurts,” said Poste-Schiavo.
In defeat, the Tide stranded more than a handful of batters as they tried to comeback from a 2-0 deficit after four innings. The team’s lone run came in the fifth inning on a sacrifice bunt by Jayla Davila that scored Emma Longmore, who doubled and moved to third base on a passed ball to set up the score.
A sixth inning double-play energized the Tide, but the spark was not enough to help mount a comeback.
“We still have the Co-GBL Championship this season as well as the long lasting friendships that they made,” said Poste-Schiavo of the year EHS had. “This team showed such heart throughout the season. After the first week, you could see everyone forming friendships, hearing words of encouragement when they made mistakes, and team bonding. This was such a great group of kids to coach. We are only losing two seniors this year, so I am hoping for a repeat for the GBL,” said Poste-Schiavo.
*Editorial Note: Celeste Fuccillo allowed only 62 hits this season.