RallyNorth.net

The combination of outstanding Rockport pitching and six unearned Viking runs were enough to do in the Bulldogs (15-4), 9-0. North Shore had just four hits on the afternoon, coming off the bats of Emily Pontes, Stephanie Rudis, Meg Hovan and Jen Abbott. The Bulldogs also clinched their fifth CCL title in the last six years by virtue of Minuteman's Saturday loss.

The 2008 softball season was built for offense.

With the pitcher's mound moved from 40 to 43 feet, hitters can now tee off on opposing pitchers.

Despite the changes in the game being to their disadvantage, the pitching on Cape Ann has still been stellar. Gloucester, Rockport and Manchester Essex each have an ace pitcher they send to the mound every game in Jill Lukegord, Tia Nelson and Lindsey Cambridge, respectively. Collectively they have put up impressive pitching numbers in a sport all of a sudden dominated by offense.

In addition to a defense that committed no errors, Rockport's Tia Nelson (four strikeouts) threw her second no-hitter in a week as the Vikings (5-9) softball team kept their tournament hopes alive with a 2-0 win on the road over Pentucket.

Junior Kerry Desmond gave herself all the runs she needed with a double, a triple and two RBI, as she threw a shutout on the mound with nine strikeouts and blanked Rockport 12-0. Krista MacKenzie had three hits and Courtney Rosales had three hits, including two doubles, as the Tigers (11-1) totaled 18 hits as a team.

Rockport (3-5) junior ace Tia Nelson didn't hurl another no-hitter but the Vikings will take the effort. Nelson held North Andover (5-2)-a Division 2 North finalist last spring-to five hits and struck out five as the Vikings beat the Knights for the first time in Rockport softball history.

It all came down to one inning for the Manchester Essex softball team.

Trailing Rockport 3-2 going into the bottom of the seventh inning, the Hornets needed a player to step up and be a hero. Fortunately for Manchester Essex, Alex Zager and Patty Wright were up to the task.

Things were not looking good for the Rockport softball team in yesterday's season opener against Georgetown.

Down 2-0 in the sixth inning, the Vikings had been held hitless and Royals pitcher Sarah Erlandson was cruising, retiring 16 of the 18 batters she faced.

If you are Rockport pitcher Tia Nelson, you are not like most high school athletes.

The junior captain is entering her fifth season on the Vikings softball team. She has had a starting spot on the team since she was in seventh grade, and has been the team's starting pitcher since she was in eighth grade.

Coach: Dianne Parisi

Last year's record: 8-10

Key players: Tia Nelson, Jr., P; Andrea Rovedo, Sr., OF; Jessica Dunn, Jr., OF; Kristen Quinn, Jr., SS; Kaitlyn Keough, So., 2B.