Ferri Reaches 500 Strikeout Plateau

Winthrop High star softball pitcher Alex Ferri achieved a milestone seldom seen in the schoolboy ranks, as she reached the 500 career strikeout plateau Monday against Revere.

Alex, who drew within striking range of the mark with an 11 strikeout performance last week against Salem, wasted no time in taking care of business as she struck out the Revere side in the bottom of the first inning.

“We knew she was shooting for the 500 strikeouts, so we figured we would try to bunt on her to start the game. But she mowed us right down,” said an admiring Revere head coach Joe Ciccarello.

The game was stopped and Ferri was presented with the ball to commemorate the achievement. “Alex is a great example of an athlete who works hard and never stops trying to improve,” said WHS head coach Dave Guffey, who noted that no other WHS pitcher has even come close to Ferri’s accomplishment. “She worked hard in the off-season to be in top condition and she has been getting stronger as the season has progressed. I think she’s the best pitcher in the league.”

Unfortunately for Alex, who will take her talents to Framingham State College next year where she will major in education, and her teammates, the final outcome of the contest did not end as happily as it began, as Revere rallied for five runs in the fourth inning to come away with a 5-1 triumph.

Although Winthrop outhit Revere eight to seven, the Lady Vikings could muster only one run, that coming in the sixth when Ferri herself singled and eventually came around on a base hit by Michelle LaSala. Winthrop threatened to do more damage in that frame when the Lady Vikings subsequently loaded the bases with one out. However, a line smash by Jen Collignon down first base way was snared on a diving catch by the Revere first baseman who then stepped on the bag for an inning-ending and rally-quashing double play.

Collignon by the way, who was starting in her first game because of an illness to regular left fielder Lauren Kostigan, had a hit, a walk, and made a putout in left.

Ferri’s final line showed she yielded just two earned runs on seven hits, walking none, and fanning 11. Eight different Lady Vikings had base hits, with a double by Kelly Swanson the lone hit for extra bases.

Winthrop enjoyed a better fate last week in a 6-2 triumph over Salem. Ferri went all seven frames on the mound, allowing just five hits and once again whiffing 11 enemy hitters while impressively issuing just one walk.

Rachel DelSolio was a hitting star for Winthrop with two hits, including a double, reaching on an error, and driving in one. Maura Lanza contributed a hit with an RBI and a run scored. LaSala added a double, reached on an error, scored two runs, and stole a base. Christine Haskell, in her first varsity start, reached on an error and drove in a run with a fielder’s choice.

Guffey and his crew, who now are 5-7 on the season, were scheduled to host Danvers yesterday (Wednesday), travel to Lynn English today, entertain Swampscott Monday, and trek to Gloucester next Wednesday.

Lexi Vaccaro’s four firsts power girls track

Lexi Vaccaro claimed first places in four events to lead the Winthrop High girls track team to a win over Lynn English and move one step closer to clinching the NEC South title.

Vaccaro sped to victory in the 100 dash in 13.2 seconds, a personal record (PR); captured the triple jump with a distance of 32-3; won the javelin with a toss of 65-0; and outran the field in the 400 dash in a PR time of 63.3.

Alyssa Mackey, Amy Sena, and Ashley Juravich were double winners for the Lady Vikings. Alyssa leaped to victory in the long jump with a PR of 16-3, which also qualified her for the state meet, and raced to victory in the 200 dash in 29.0. Amy shared first in the 400 low hurdles in 73.3 and the high jump with a leap of 4-8. Ashley won the shotput and discus with tosses of 30-9 and 72-6 respectively.

Other first place finishers for Winthrop, which took 12 of the individual events, were: Carly O’Keefe, who took first in the 100 high hurdles in 17.9 and shared first in the 400 low hurdles with Sena in  73.3; Julia Wallace, who likewise shared a first with Sena with a high jump of 4-8; and Shanel Turransky, who won the two mile run in 14:34.

Strong second place finishes were turned in by: Kaitlyn Fennell and Chlara Powers in the mile in similar clockings of l7:14;  Jordan Griffiths in the 800 in 2:47;  Christa Vaccaro with a long jump of 13-9;  Isabella Kennedy in the 100 high hurdles in 20.0; and Valentina Ramos with a shotput heave of 20-9.

The Lady Vikings are scheduled to traveling to Saugus to compete against Revere today (Thursday).

In the NEC freshman and sophomore meet held last week, Juravich claimed the shotput championship.