Entering the season, there were a lot of questions surrounding Braintree’s baseball team following the graduation of some key players.
On Saturday, the defending Super 8 champion put some of those questions to rest as the Wamps defeated visiting Peabody, 7-1, behind a one-hitter from senior Brandon Fein.
The righthander finished with eight strikeouts and only one walk. The Tanners’ run was unearned.
“We feel like we have tremendous pitching depth this year,’’ Braintree coach Bill O’Connell said. “That is one of our strengths and we feel like that will really come into play once we get into the grind of the season.’’
With the game scoreless in the bottom of the second inning and runners on second and third with two outs, Braintree senior center fielder Erik MacDonald delivered a two-run double to right field.
Peabody scored on junior Nick Palma’s ground out in the fourth, but the Wamps got that run back in the bottom of the inning when junior Jack Andrews drilled an RBI double.
Braintree broke open the game in the fifth with four runs. Junior Joe Vannelli drove in two on a single.
That was all the insurance Fein would need. The only hit for Peabody (2-2) was by junior Anthony Iannuzzi.
MacDonald and Vannelli both collected two hits for third-ranked Braintree (2-1), and Fein got his first varsity victory.
“It feels awesome,’’ Fein said. “I’ve been waiting for it for a long time.
Saugus 3, Winthrop 1 — Sachems coach Steve Freker picked up his 300th career victory as John Prentice tossed a two-hitter with nine strikeouts.
Austin Prep 5, Archbishop Williams 0 — Senior Andrew Deroche tossed a shutout with 14 strikeouts for the Cougars.
Lawrence Academy 3, St. George’s 0 — Senior Josh Garber pitched a no-hitter for the Spartans.
North Reading 11, Pentucket 1 — Junior Dan Madden struck out six and junior Jeff Mejia went 3 for 5 with three doubles to lead the Fighting Hornets (3-0) to the big win.
Burlington 3, Reading 2 — Senior Nick O’Neil had the winning hit for the Red Devils (1-1).
Nobles 3, Middlesex 0 — Senior Noah Nunnelly threw a shutout for the Bulldogs (3-2).
Portsmouth Abbey 3, Brooklyn Poly Prep 0 — Sophomore Travis Lane pitched a shutout, allowing just three hits to lead the Ravens (4-0).
Sutton 11, Blackstone-Millville 5 — Lucas Stowe hit a two-run homer, and Pete Oberg was 2 for 3 with a run to lift the host Sammies (2-1, 2-1 Dual Valley). For the Chargers (1-2, 1-2), Ryan Delgizzi had two hits and Josh Loiselle delivered an RBI single.
Malden Catholic 3, St. Peter-Marian 2 — Malden Catholic junior Will Montgomery (2 hits) had an RBI triple in the bottom of the eighth, and after an intentional walk to load the bases with one out, Nick Dascoli rapped an RBI single to win it for the Lancers (2-2). St. Peter-Marian’s Pat Gallagher had an RBI single in the top of the eighth and also had an RBI in the sixth. Gallagher went the distance and struck out five while scattering five hits for the Guardians (3-1). St. Peter-Marian’s Josh Delsignore singled, double and scored, while P.J. Barry tripled and scored. Christian Walsh (single) and Kosta Drosidis (double) had the other hits for the Guardians.
Holy Name 23, Burncoat 1 — Ryan Brosser and Dan Carew each went 4 for 6, and Nick Juliano as 3 for 5 with a double for the Naps (2-2). Jan Carlos Sanchez had two stolen bases and scored for the Patriots (1-3).
Groton-Dunstable 17, Fitchburg 0 — Senior right-hander Justin Watt hurled five perfect innings and struck out 12 as the host Crusaders cruised in their mercy-shortened season opener. Jacob Barnes (3 for 3, 4 RBIs), Kyle Priest (3 for 4, 2 RBIs) and Patrick Keating (2 for 2, 3 RBIs) sparked the Groton-Dunstable offense against the Red Raiders (0-2).
Worcester Academy 2, Phillips Exeter 1 — In the fourth inning of the first game, Alex Brickman hit an RBI triple, then Craig Corliss drove him home with a two-out single to provide the winning margin for the host Hilltoppers (8-3, 2-1 NEPSAC). Corliss, Seth Learned and Jono Crimmin each had two hits in the nightcap.
Phillips Exeter 10, Worcester Academy 5 — In the fourth inning of the first game, Alex Brickman hit an RBI triple, then Craig Corliss drove him home with a two-out single to provide the winning margin for the host Hilltoppers (8-3, 2-1 NEPSAC). Corliss, Seth Learned and Jono Crimmin each had two hits in the nightcap.
Softball
Milton Academy 12, Brooks 2 — Sophomore center fielder Claire Dudley was 4 for 5 with a grand slam and seven RBIs to pace the Mustangs.
Wachusett 8, St. Peter-Marian 3 — Wachusett’s Kiana Lloyd was 3 for 4 with two doubles and four RBIs, while Taylor Tornberg was 2 for 4 with a double and two RBIs and Cammi Sperling was 2 for 3 with two runs to send the visiting Mountaineers over the Guardians. Wachisett’s Liv Strasser struck out 10, scattered 5 hits and allowed 2 earned runs. St. Peter-Marian’s Jordan Carnes was 2 for 4 with a run and an RBI.
Worcester Academy 9, Phillips Exeter 3 — Freshman Olivia Valery (2 for 3, run) struck out five and scattered seven hits while improving to 3-0 for the week, lifting the visiting Hilltoppers (3-1). Danae Alexandrou was 3 for 5 with a home run, and Timary Malley also had three hits with two RBIs and three runs.
Boys’ lacrosse
Oliver Ames 7, Milton 3 — Senior Aidan Connly and sophomore Eric LeBlanc each scored two goals in the Tigers’ win.
Belmont Hill 9, Governor’s Academy 8 — Senior Griffin Gustafsson scored the winner for Belmont Hill (3-0) with less than a minute remaining.
Nobles 11, Middlesex 7 — Sophomore Hayden Cheek netted four goals to help the visiting Bulldogs improve to 5-0. Senior Danny Jacobs scored three goals and added two assists in the win.
Pomfret 11, Holderness 7 — Senior Max Ranaldi netted three goals and had two assists in the win.
North Middlesex 16, St. Peter-Marian 2 — Corey DaSilva scored six goals, Justin Estrella added five and Peter Polito netted two to lead the host Patriots (1-3).
Northbridge 15, Bellingham 4 — Brendan Moganelli had five goals and two assists, while Chandler Brooks, Geoff Reichert and Logan Ciliberto all had two goals and two assists to send the host Rams (1-2) past the Blackhawks (0-4). Kevin Smith made nine saves for Northbridge.
Groton-Dunstable 9, Chelmsford 8 — Nick Irby scored at 3:11 of overtime to lift the visiting Crusaders (1-3) over the Lions (2-2). Jack O’Neill had four goals and an assist for the winners. Groton-Dunstable’s Blake Lacombe tallied to tie the game with 12 seconds left.
St. John’s (Shrewsbury) 10, Wachusett 6 — The host Pioneers held the Mountaineers scoreless in the second half and Andrew Cox and Jack Donahue each notched hat tricks to lead St. John’s (4-0) past the Mountaineers (4-2).
Girls’ lacrosse
Bishop Fenwick 21, Cardinal Spellman 4 — Senior Merry Harrington scored seven goals while senior Tori Hernandez had six for the Crusaders (4-0).
Melrose 18, Arlington Catholic 3 — Senior captions Haley Mate and Haley Rodriguez each scored three goals for the Red Raiders (5-0).
Haverhill 18, Medford 3 — Junior Emily Schultz led the Hillies (3-2) with four goals and sophomore Missy Toney added three goals and two assists in the win.
Grafton 16, Hudson 2 — Gianna DiPinto scored three goals, and Ali Fasold (3 assists), Lauren Lyver, Erin Tyldesley and Hazel Wood each netted two for the host Indians (4-0). Isabella Lima scored twice for Hudson and notched her 100th career point.
Groton-Dunstable 9, Westford 8 — Ellie Eisenklam and Leah Garside each scored twice, while Sophia Irby had a goal and assist and Katie Royal also scored to send the visiting Crusaders (3-1) past the Grey Ghosts. Maria Antonellis made eight saves for Groton-Dunstable.
For more scores and highlights, go to bostonglobe.com/schools.
