RallyNorth.net

As good as advertised.

That was the consensus of the Methuen softball team at Martin Field last night after the Rangers fell to Lexington and its ace, Kiki Saveriano, 3-0 in the Division 1 North semifinals.

PEABODY | The situation was just what the Peabody High softball team was hoping for.

The end result, however, was not.

Despite loading the bases in the final inning, the Tanners couldn't push the tying run across and fell to visiting Methuen, 5-4, in the Division 1 North quarterfinals at Kiley Field.

METHUEN | Despite a tough 7-1 loss to Methuen yesterday in the Division 1 North first round, Haverhill can take a slew of positives out of this season.

The Hillies posted back-to-back winning seasons for the first time since 1995-96.

No one should expect a pitching duel in today's 7 p.m. championship game of the Methuen Invitational.

The way red-hot Andover and Methuen hit the ball in their semifinal victories at the Burnham Road complex yesterday, in fact, there could be a slugfest.

Life will be much simpler for Josephine Guselli next spring. It may not be anywhere near as much fun, however.

For the last few years, she has been a gung-ho fan of both the Central Catholic and Methuen softball teams, avidly following her granddaughters, Chelsey, a senior for the Raiders, and Becca, a junior for the Rangers.

Central Catholic pasted Methuen 15-0 in five innings.

Lindsay Martin drilled an run-scoring double and Lisa Policelli had an RBI single in Central's six-run second inning.

Tina Eringis had the day's monster blast, a grand slam as part of a nine-run, fourth-inning uprising.

METHUEN | This one was special for Central Catholic's Lindsay Martin.

The senior from Methuen enjoys defeating her hometown team anyway but, in wake of last year, last night's 2-1 victory at Burnham Road Field was doubly pleasing.

Perhaps it wasn't too much of a sacrifice, but both Salem senior Erin Lyons and Methuen junior Sarra Bergeron have learned that patience can indeed be a virtue.

For different reasons, both have been more in the background the last two years, but they are now among the better pitchers in the region and vital members of two of the better teams.

2007 record: 16-6, lost in Division 1 North second round

Returning starters (6): Sarra Bergeron, Jr., OF/P; Rebecca Guselli, Jr., 2B; Stephanie Chaisson, Sr., OF;  Jessi McCarthy, Sr., SS;  Nicole Mason, Jr., 1B; Paige Fleming, Soph., C