Pereira powers King Philip
SCHOOLS
With King Philip’s leadership role vacant coming into this softball season, senior Elise Pereira stepped in to fill the void. And it has suited her well, especially yesterday in a Hockomock League showdown against North Attleboro.
Pereira smashed two home runs and collected five RBI as the Warriors belted 15 hits in a 16-2 rout over the Red Rocketeers in North Attleboro.
Pereira also took care of business in the pitching circle for King Philip (8-2), tossing a complete-game three-hitter, striking out five and walking two.
“It’s allowed me to become more confident,” said Pereira of assuming leadership duties. “I’m not the (only) one the team relies on, but I have the ball in the circle. This is my year and just trying to do the best that I can and it’s working out.”
King Philip’s offense got to work early, scoring six times in the top of the first inning.
After a two-run single by Faith Turinese, Pereira crushed a three-run shot to center before Jessica Bonner hit another over the fence in center.
The Warriors added a run in the second inning but exploded again in the fifth. Pereira, who hits out of the No. 7 spot in the order, blasted a two-run homer to push the lead to 10-1.
It wasn’t just Pereira providing the offense. Meg Gorman went 4-for-4 while Hailey McCasland recorded two hits and two RBI.
“I think everything we did was pretty impressive,” said King Philip coach Norm Beauchemin. “We have a formidable lineup. One through nine we don’t have a weak spot.”
With a strong defense behind her, Pereira attacked North Attleboro (7-1), and her only real blemish came from a solo home run by Olivia DesRoches.
Elsewhere in the Hockomock League, freshman Kelsey White tossed a twohitter with 10 strikeouts to power Taunton (8-2) to an 8-0 victory against Stoughton.
In the Middlesex League, Christina Clark turned in a complete-game effort with 16 strikeouts as Burlington
(8-1) downed Lexington,
7-3.
In a nonleague tilt, Amanda Olbrys fanned seven en route to her sixth victory as Norwood (6-1) knocked off Sharon, 11-0.
Jillian Roger posted eight strikeouts, surrendering just two hits as Apponequet (2-5) took a 7-3 win over Bourne in the South Coast Conference.
Meg Marcel hit a two-run walkoff double as Archbishop Williams (2-4) edged Matignon, 9-8, in Catholic Central action.
Baseball
In the Boston City League, Carlos Vasquez struck out 15 while allowing one earned run over six innings as South Boston (41) took down Charlestown, 13-3.
In nonleague play, senior JP Kelley hit a homer and a double while driving in three to lift Catholic Memorial (7-5) over Needham, 10-4.
Mac LeBarge finished 2-for-3 with a grand slam while JP LeBarge tossed seven innings with eight strikeouts to propel Nauset (5-3) to its 5-1 victory against Falmouth.
In the South Coast Conference, sophomore Lucas Berube pitched a complete game with seven strikeouts, and added three hits and three RBI at the plate as Dighton-Rehoboth (6-4) took down Bourne, 6-1.
Boys lacrosse
In the Commonwealth Conference, sophomore Kevin Kemp registered five goals and added an assist as Shawsheen Tech (9-0) posted a 15-4 win over Greater Lowell (9-0).
Girls lacrosse
Sydney Poulin and Gabby Venezia each scored five times as Watertown (6-4) took down Middlesex League opponent Belmont, 12-9.
In the Commonwealth Conference, junior Maddie Rumley shouldered the load with four goals to help Shawsheen (7-3) defeat Greater Lowell, 12-2.
In the South Coast Conference, Shannon Carmichael and Abby Moynihan combined for seven goals to lead Apponequet (5-0) past Greater New Bedford Voke, 16-4.