Much is expected from the Marblehead High softball team (2-0) this spring, and so far after two games they have probably lived up to the hype, and then some. Perfection is now in their DNA after junior pitcher Tessa Francis faced 15 Ipswich batters in Friday’s game (April 4), and retired all of them enroute to a 13-0 mercy rule road victory.
“This is Tessa’s fourth career no-hitter, but it’s her first perfect game,” said coach Johnny Gold afterwards. “I also do believe it’s the first perfect game in the history of our program.”
Gold went on to say: “(Francis) spotted her pitches perfectly, which is also a credit to her catcher Luka Bornhorst. She issued no walks, while striking out 10 over the five innings.”
Francis was also Ipswich’s nightmare at the plate. She was credited with a two-run triple and a two-run homer to help power the team’s offensive attack.
Third baseman Tessa Andriano also factored prominently in the offense, collecting three hits and three RBI. Left fielder Nora Mahan came through with two hits in as many at-bats. Ashley Mortensen also had two hits. Her twin sister Isabel, Lyla McGovern and Kate Andriano, Tessa’s twin, accounted for one hit apiece.
“In terms of the overall team, we still have a lot of work to do in some aspects of our game,” said Gold. “We need to cut down on our strikeouts to become more consistent at the plate, which includes going for the simple base hits. But once we get on, our baserunning has been great. We are getting to where we are supposed to be, but there are still a couple of things that we have to clean up.”
Prior to the Ipswich game, the Magicians opened up the season at home against Masco on April 2, where they came out on top, 3-1.
In this game, Francis gave up four hits, no walks and no earned runs, while fanning 11.
In the fifth inning, Ashley Mortensen walked, and advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt by Kate Andriano, before scoring on a wild throw to third in an attempt to pick her off.
In the sixth, Isabel Mortensen got on base, before Francis singled to begin another threat. Keliane Salem then ran for Francis. McGovern followed with a deep fly to right that scored Mortensen with the team’s second run. Ashley Mortensen and Kate Andriano kept the inning going with singles that produced the insurance tally.
The Marblehead girls were supposed to go up against non-league host Latin Academy on Monday, April 7, but that game was postponed. They will now be facing the Big Blue in Swampscott on Wednesday, April 9, at 4:30 p.m., before coming home to go up against Peabody two days later, April 11, beginning at 4 p.m.
