to even record

BY JOE McCONNELL

In honor of Cinco de Mayo, the Marblehead High softball team (4-5 in the Northeastern Conference, 5-5 overall) wrapped up the first half of the regular season with a thoroughly convincing victory over host Saugus, 11-2, on May 5.

Junior pitcher Ruby Calienes went the distance in the circle, giving up two runs on five hits and one walk, while striking out six over seven innings. Calienes also helped her own cause on offense with three RBI and a hit.

Catcher Luka Bornhorst accounted for a single and a triple. She also knocked in three runs and scored three times. Outfielder Isabel Mortensen chipped in with a single and a double. Third baseman Tessa Andriano was also credited with two hits.

In recent action, the Marblehead girls lost to Division 1 powerhouse Peabody in a close matchup on April 24, 8-2. But they bounced back to beat Swampscott, 15-3, and then non-league Whittier Tech, 17-14, before dropping a 10-7 decision to Salem on May 4.

“We were beating Peabody — in my opinion the best team in the state — after five innings, 2-1,” said coach Johnny Gold. “We are seeing a lot of progress, with the team batting average, in particular, going up every day.”

Ila Bumagin doubled in two runs in the fifth to give her teammates the lead briefly. In the home

NOTEBOOK, P. A11