Freshmen Give Saugus Big Lift in Foothill Race

There’s a fresh attitude at Saugus High, where last season the Centurions failed to win the Foothill League softball title for the first time since 1993.

Saugus is attempting to claim its seventh title of the decade by using a lineup filled with freshmen at critical positions.

Five ninth-graders made key contributions on Thursday at Saugus during a 2-1 victory over defending champion Hart, ranked sixth in the region by The Times.

Right-hander Christina Gillman (4-2) of Saugus struck out five, walked one and allowed six hits.

Shortstop Jaclyn Holden and second baseman Allie Walling each singled and made key defensive plays, pinch-runner Amy Snyder stole a base and catcher Brittany Benike tagged out the would-be tying run at the plate in the fifth inning for the Centurions.

“The freshmen had a pretty good day today,” said Coach Ron Hilton of Saugus (5-4-1, 1-0 in league play).

Sophomore left-hander Lindsey Kontra (4-2) of Hart struck out five and allowed five singles.

Of her 63 pitches, 54 were for strikes.

But Kontra was hurt by a two-run throwing error in the third inning by all-league third baseman Jocelyn Evans, whose attempt to force out Walling at second sailed over Carly Caldaronello and into right-center field.

“If we didn’t make that one error, we probably win, 1-0,” said first-year Hart Coach Cathy Giordano, whose daughters, Jeanine and Nicole, both were standouts at Saugus. “But that’s the way softball is.”

Caldaronello was three for three, including a run-scoring double in the fourth.

Hart (9-3-1, 1-1) threatened to tie the score in the fifth, but a perfect throw by center fielder Kelly Cornelison to Benike nailed Lorian Jenkins, who was attempting to score on a fly out by Kontra.

The Centurions’ record might be deceiving. Their four losses have come against Quartz Hill, Simi Valley, Dana Hills and Laguna Hills, teams that entered the week with a combined record of 44-4.