Swampscott Softball Stars Score Second Tournament Win (SCRAPBOOK)

The Swampscott Little League All-Stars played back-and-forth softball against the Pine Hill/West Lynn squad Sunday.

In the end, Swampscott closed the door on Pine HIll rallies and crashed key hits to score pivotal runs in the 12-9 victory at the Forest Avenue ball field.

While the game was played on the Swampscott 12-year-olds'  field, they were considered the away team and led off the game at bat.

Swamspcott wasted no time scoring runs, pushing five of them across in the top of the first inning.

Patience at bat led to numerous walks and good pitches to hit. 

Once on base, the Swampscott girls forced the issue, repeatedly stealing and taking extra bases.

Later, in the bottom of the second inning, Pine Hill borrowed a page from the Swampscott script, taking numerous free passes and getting timely hits.

The Pine hIll girls ran the bases with abandon. In fact, Swampscott ended the rally by throwing out an aggressive Pine Hill runner.

Abandon on the base paths became a theme in the game and eventually would play a major role in the outcome.

Still, Pine Hill scored seven runs, taking a 7-5 lead.

But Swampscott was not to be denied, first tying the game, then, two innings later, grabbing the lead.

Olivia Cooke delivered a clutch triple, knocking in two runs.

Meanwhile, Swampscott pitcher Veronica Rizzo kept her composure and found a rhythm in the middle innings by throwing strikes,

In the fifth inning, Lynn loaded the bases and Swampscott Manager Jim Capone put Hannah Leahy in as pitcher with none out.

She shut the door on the rally.

But Pine Hill/West Lyn was not about to go quietly.

Neither team had intentions of being quiet.

Teammates sang out chants from the dugouts.

Swampscott sang that they were going to run-run-run, score-score-score and win-win-win.

When they were all done with that they would eat some din-din-din, they sang.

Pine Hill responded with their own chant and rallied for several runs before the game ended with one of their runners being picked off third base.

Swampscott’s catcher, Olivia Cooke, decided the runner was a little too far off the base. The catcher pegged the bright green softball to the third base player who tagged the Pine Hill runner.

The umpire called the runner out, drawing a howl from the Pine Hill third-base coach, who thought his runner was safe.

The game was over.

Swampscott has won two games in the tournament, the first 12-10 vs Marblehead. 

They play next tonight, against Wyoma of Lynn.