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The Central Catholic softball team went a long way to honoring late team member Becca Solomon, a senior outfielder who died in an automobile accident last week, with yesterday’s big 7-1 victory over Bedford in the first round of the Division 2 North playoffs.

Cara Chooljian dominated Alvirne, striking out 15 in a three-hitter with one walk to lift Pinkerton to a 3-0 win.

Brittany Gentile and Alison Deleo each had a hit and drove in a run.

Freshmen Sarah Frahm (3 for 5, two RBIs, two runs), Steph Long (2 for 4, two RBIs, one run) and Nicole Gubellini (one inning, two strikeouts) were pivotal in Salem's 13-1 drubbing of Winnacunnet. Gubellini pitched a clean ninth to help preserve the lead established by winning pitcher Nora Galvin, who struck out eight in just four innings.

METHUEN, Mass. — It was mission accomplished for standout pitcher Sarra Bergeron and the rest of the Methuen seniors last night.

The Rangers have enjoyed fine seasons the last three years, winning 16 games each of the last two years, but the Methuen Invitational Tournament title had always eluded them. Last night, they made certain that the void would be filled, cruising to an 8-1 victory over North Andover at the Burnham Road softball complex.

Phillips Andover dropped rival Phillips Exeter in a double-header, winning 12-5 in the first game and 12-9 in the second. In game one, Riley Gardner broke a 5-5 tie with a huge three-run blast in the top of the fourth. Senior reserve Torie Norris (Andover) collected two hits, including a two-run single, and scored a run in the Big Blue's second victory of the day. Freshman Jackie Higgins of Andover was credited with the win in both contests.

Krissi Romano had a pair of triples to lead Sanborn's 12-hit attack during a 14-1 rout of Conant. Romano's first three-base hit scored two during a four-run first.

A four-run first inning opened the door for North Reading who held on to beat host Ipswich 6-5 to win the Cape Ann League title. Caitlin Reilly had three hits for the Hornets and Casey Chapman threw a complete game.

Freshman Kasey Marraffa barely beat the throw from the outfield in the bottom of the ninth as Pinkerton beat Manchester Central 7-6 on Katie Miller's walk-off single. Shannon Murphy had a home run and Cara Chooljian threw a complete game and struck out 12.

The Haverhill baseball and softball teams went 2-0 on the day with the boys beating Tewksbury 9-2 and the girls dropping Newburyport 10-8.

For the boys, Taylor Robinson went 2 for 3 with a team-high four RBIs while Chad Kimball scattered seven hits over seven innings while striking out five to earn the win. In softball action, Lisa Betances cracked a pair of triples, including a huge three-run three-bagger in the seventh, to rack up four RBIs. Katelyn Demers had the game's decisive hit as she singled home the go-ahead run as well as an insurance run with a seventh-inning single.

Sparked by freshman pitcher Shannon Dube, Whittier swept a doubleheader from Nashoba, 6-0 and 4-2. Dube pitched her first shutout of the season in the first game, spinning a nifty two-hitter while striking out five, and closed the second game with two innings of hitless relief, striking out three.