RallyNorth.net

Not exactly the best way to start a busy week of baseball.

Unbeaten Sanborn struggled through a rough first inning against Belmont, committing three errors that the visitors happily seized upon for a 3-0 advantage.

Last night the Gloucester girls basketball team was reminded that basketball is indeed a tall person's sport.

The young and relatively inexperienced 12th-seeded Fishermen, with Jill Lukegord as the team's lone senior, met No. 5 Belmont in the opening round of the Division 2 North state tournament. However, experience was not so much the issue in this contest. Height was.

Tess Saunders went from chilled to thrilled before her legs could even thaw out Saturday night at Acton-Boxboro's Leary Field.

Saunders, a sophomore reserve forward for the Danvers girls soccer team, watched 80 minutes of regulation soccer from the sideline before getting the call from Falcons' coach Jimmy Hinchion. It took her less than 11 minutes on the field to make a huge impact.

Maya Miatkowski made 11 saves, but No. 2 North Andover still fell to No. 7 Belmont, 2-1, in the Division 2 North quarterfinals. Katie Maroney scored the Scarlet Knights' goal, assisted by Danielle Quinlan and Britt Chiles. Tara Donahue added a standout game on defense for North Andover.

Tori Snow clicked for an unassisted strike 22 minutes into the game to lift Marblehead to the Div. 2 North semifinals, where the Magicians will meet Manchester Essex (date TBA). Libby Levine made seven saves for the shutout.