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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.

“We’ve been taking about this all year because it’s one thing we seniors haven’t won,” said Bergeron. “We really wanted this.”

Bergeron certainly did her part to make sure Methuen prevailed. She pitched her second four-hitter in as many nights, striking out 11, and was in command almost the entire way. She was also named team MVP for the tourney after being selected earlier in the day as the MVC Division 1 Player of the Year.

“That (honor) was a surprise, but the most important thing was winning the tournament,” said Bergeron.

While putting away the Knights for their fifth straight win, the Rangers (15-5) also got to the heart of the matter at the plate.

The heart of Methuen’s batting order — Becca Armstrong, Paige Fleming and Becca Caterino in the 3-4-5 spots — reached base 11 times in 12 plate appearances.

Armstrong had a triple and scored three times and both Fleming and Caterino had two hits apiece. And yet they were hardly the only hitting stars for Methuen.

Freshman Courtney Bradley had a solo home run in the fourth and ailing Bryanna Giorgio was 2 for 2, including a three-run double in the third that broke the game open.

“That’s the way we’re capable of hitting,” said Methuen coach Jason Smith, whose club played errorless ball. “This was just a very satisfying win for the seniors, and it’s also very satisfying to be 15-5.

“We really turned it around this week and I’m hoping it carries over into the tournament. Today was a total team effort.”

For North Andover (8-12), tourney team MVP Candace Waldie (2 for 3) produced the team’s only run with an RBI triple in the fourth, scoring Krissy Whitley.

Comeback for Andover

After giving up five runs in the first inning, Andover played perhaps its best game of the season in the consolation game, edging Lawrence 6-5 in eight innings.

Jeannette Doucette (3 for 5) scored the winning run when she led off the bottom of the eighth with a triple and scored on a walk-off bunt by Heather Paonessa.

Meg McCarthy had a single, double and triple and scored twice and both Jess Musto and Meg Pettoruto added triples.

Freshman Taylor Farris, meanwhile, pitched great in relief for the Golden Warriors (8-12) after taking over in the second inning. She allowed just an infield single and retired 14 of the final 15 batters she faced.

“We played well,” said Andover coach Stephanie Ragucci. “If we had played like that all year, we would have won a few more games.”

Methuen 8, North Andover 1

North Andover (1): Whitley ss 3-1-1, Lynch 3b 3-0-1, Waldie c 3-0-2, Fournier 1b 3-0-0, Callagy lf 3-0-0, Vozeolas cf 3-0-0, Cox p 2-0-0, Mitchell ph 1-0-0, Logomasini 2b 2-0-0, Weir rf 1-0-0, Curley ph 1-0-0. Totals 24-1-4

Methuen (8): Bradley ss 4-1-1, Bergeron p 4-0-0, Loffredo pr 0-1-0, Armstrong 1b 3-3-2, Fleming c 3-0-2, Leach pr 0-2-0, Caterino cf 2-1-2, Giorgio dp 2-0-2, Newell dp 2-0-1, Guselli 2b 3-0-0, Prezzano ph 1-0-1, Barron 3b 2-0-0, Haneffant ph 1-0-0, Carbonneau rf 2-0-0, Giordano ph 1-0-0, Thornton lf/pr 0-0-0. Totals 30-8-11

RBI: NA —Waldie; M — Caterino 2, Giorgio 3, Bradley, Fleming

WP: Bergeron; LP: Cox

North Andover (8-11): 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 — 1

Methuen (15-5): 2 0 3 2 0 1 0 — 8

Andover 6, Lawrence 5

Lawrence (5): Lopez 3b 2-1-0, Je.Santiago c 3-0-0, Francisco ss 2-1-0, Valerio lf 2-1-1, Sicard 2b 4-1-1, Villar cf 3-1-0, Veras 1b 2-0-0, Rivera rf 3-0-0, Pagan dp 3-0-1, Ja.Santiago p 0-0-0. Totals 24-5-3

Andover (6): Doucette c 5-1-3, Paonessa rf 5-0-1, K.McCarthy 1b 4-1-2, M.McCarthy ss 4-2-3, Musto dp 4-1-1, Strock 3b 4-0-2, Pettoruto cf 4-1-2, Kucharski lf 1-0-0, Coffey lf 1-0-1, Awiszus 2b 4-0-0, Robie p 0-0-0, Farris p 0-0-0. Totals 36-6-15

RBI: L — Valerio, Sicard 2, Veras; A — M.McCarthy, Kucharski, Musto, Strock 2, Paonessa

WP: Farris; LP: Ja.Santiago

Lawrence (10-10): 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 — 5

Andover (8-12): 0 0 1 1 2 0 1 1 — 6

Tourney team MVPs

Methuen — Sarra Bergeron

North Andover — Candace Waldie

Andover — Alex Strock

Lawrence — Lucy Francisco

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