RallyNorth.net

LOWELL — Jillian McCoy flashed the kind of wide, bright smile that any dentist would love Friday night.

NEWTON — The Methuen offense may be peaking at just the right time.

At least it seemed that way Wednesday afternoon when the Rangers blasted Newton North 10-1 in the Division 1 North quarterfinals and, by so doing, got a monkey off their back.

Methuen tuned up for the upcoming Division 1 North tournament with a solid 8-4 victory over a strong Arlington club. Stephanie Tardugno was 3 for 4 with a home run and scored twice for the Rangers (16-4) while Dana Littlefield and Emma McAlpine were also 3 for 4 and both had a pair of RBIs. 

Cori Rizzo started the rally in the bottom of the eighth inning when the Methuen senior laced a triple in a tie game against Haverhill. Emma McAlpine then hit a chopper that was fielded by the third basemen, but a throwing error to first allowed Rizzo to score and the Rangers to walk-off with a 6-5 win.

Cori Rizzo had two hits and four RBIs as Methuen ripped Tewksbury, 9-3. Dana Littlefield stayed hot with two hits and two RBIs.

After Chelmsford scored four in the top of the seventh and Methuen softball answered back with three to tie things up in the bottom half, the Rangers walked it off in the ninth inning, winning, 7-6. Emma McAlpine's fly-out to left was enough to bring home pinch-runner Makenna Donovan for the victory.

The Methuen softball team qualified for the state tournament for the 19th straight season after Wednesday's 14-0 win over Billerica. Dana Littlefield had a home run, two doubles and a pair of RBIs in the win.

Trailing 6-2 after five innings, Methuen put six runs on the board in the sixth, added a run in the seventh and then held on for a 9-8 win at Central Catholic. Jillian McCoy gave up 10 hits but struck out two of her 11 batters in the seventh with two runenrs on base to secure the win for the Rangers.

Every single player who stepped up to the plate notched a hit for the Methuen softball team, as the Rangers downed Reading, 8-4. Avry Nelson knocked in two RBIs, while Nyah Mazzone and Dana Littlefield each had two hits.

Sophomore Sara Folan had an outstanding day as Andover softball topped Methuen, 4-0. Folan pitched a complete game shutout, tossing just 70 pitches, allowing only three hits and striking out five. She also went 2 for 3 at the dish and drove in Andover's first run, which proved to be the winning score.