CC’s Hajjar stops Lowell
Michigan commit does it all
The power arm on Central Catholic’s pitching staff comes equipped with an equally powerful bat.
Central Catholic ace Steve Hajjar, a senior left-hander from North Andover, made his first start of the spring against Lowell yesterday. Throwing in front of a large contingent of pro scouts, Hajjar, who has committed to Michigan, reached the low 90’s on the radar gun.
But the speed of Hajjar’s pitches didn’t impact the outcome as much as the exit velocity of a big fly he launched off his bat.
Hajjar’s three-run home run to left field was the big blow in a six-run sixth inning that lifted Central Catholic past Lowell, 8-4, at Stoklosa/ Alumni Field.
The homer came on a 3-2 pitch and wiped out a 4-2 Lowell lead. Central Catholic improved its record to 3-0 overall, 2-0 in the MVC. Lowell is 1-1.
“I put a pretty good swing on it and it went out,” Hajjar said. “So I was pretty happy with that.”
Lowell trailed 2-0 in the sixth but got run-scoring hits from Ray Velazquez, Anderson Jimenez and John Donovan. Then, Hajjar’s bat took over.
“I had said to Steven, ‘One (run) is fine, you don’t have to knock in (three),’” said Central Catholic coach Marc Pelletier. “I didn’t think he was going to go big fly. But good for him. He put a good swing on it.”
Elsewhere, Josh Becker pitched a two-hitter with nine strikeouts as Burlington (1-0) edged past Woburn, 2-0, in the Middlesex League.
Matt Fiore earned a complete-game victory on the mound and added two RBI to help his cause as Lynnfield (1-1) topped Triton, 6-3, in the Cape Ann League.
In the Patriot League, sophomore Michael Quigley tossed a no-hitter, striking out 11, as Silver Lake (2-0) edged Pembroke, 2-1 . ... Brendan Ferrell spun a complete game, scattering six hits as
Plymouth North (3-0) doubled up Hanover, 4-2.
Josh Richardson fanned 14 while Bobby Pearl smashed a grand slam to lift Dexter Southfield (2-1) over Nobles, in an Independent School League matchup.
Billy Rose struck out nine and went 3-for-4 at the plate to propel Billerica (1-1) past
Chelmsford, 5-2, in the Merrimack Valley League.
Boys lacrosse
Jake Davis netted a hat trick and brother Will added 16 saves to lead Franklin (5-1) to a 9-7 victory over Newton North in nonleague action.
Tyler Morris nabbed four goals and two assists to push Billerica (5-0) past Central Catholic, 10-4, in a Merrimack Valley League contest.
Girls lacrosse
Emma Thomas made 10 saves to help Concord-Carlisle (3-0) top Weston, 17-7, in the Dual County League.
In a nonleague matchup, Nicole Smith and Grace Firth each compiled a hat trick and two assists to boost Bishop Feehan (3-1) over Attleboro, 18-1. … Lauren Bonavita scored six goals and Riley Bina added four more as Whitman-Hanson (1-2) dropped Hull, 14-5.
In Middlesex League action, Britney Catsoulis scored four goals and Spencer McClellan stopped 10 shots as Watertown (1-3) defeated Arlington, 12-9.
Softball
Allie Britt went 3-4 with 3 RBI as Arlington (2-0) rolled past Melrose, 14-3, in Middlesex League play . ... Senior Kaitlyn Delaney cranked a walkoff double in the eighth inning, as Woburn (2-0) knocked off Burlington, 7-6.
In a Patriot League contest, Maeg Amsler knocked in four runs as Hanover (3-0) defeated Plymouth North, 12-5 . ... Brenna Welch tossed a two-hit shutout as
Silver Lake (2-0) coasted by
Pembroke, 12-0.
In the Catholic Central, Molly Simmons launched a home run to propel Arlington Catholic (3-0) to an 8-7 victory over Matignon.
In the Commonwealth Athletic Conference, Becca Smith blasted a two-run home run, pacing Shawsheen (1-1) to a 10-5 win over
Northeast.