Despite loss, Salem State's team ends baseball season on high note
The Salem State College baseball team made history on May 17, defeating the University of Southern Maine, 8-5, in the first round of the NCAA Division 3 Eastern College Athletic Conference Regional to record its first-ever NCAA tournament victory.
Jason Sablone of Malden clubbed a two-run double in the bottom of the eighth to give Salem State a 6-5 lead, and Mike Adessa of Revere sealed the morning victory with a two-run homer.
The celebration was short-lived for the Vikings for two reasons: Star shortstop Derek Lyons of Danvers, the New England Division 3 Player of the Year, broke a finger during the win and had to sit down, and a scheduling quirk sent Salem State back to Harwich's Whitehouse Field at 8 that night to play again.
Salem State (34-8) lost to top-seeded Wheaton College, 5-2, in the nightcap, and then was eliminated with a 14-4 loss to Middlebury College the next day. But coach Ken Perrone told his players not to let the losses last week overshadow the season's accomplishments -- a school-record 34 wins, the Massachusetts State College Athletic Conference regular season and tournament titles, and the landmark NCAA tournament game victory.
``I told them I don't want to dwell on the loss at all. I said, `You guys accomplished more than any baseball team at Salem State College did,' " said Perrone, who wrapped up his 24th season as the Vikings coach.
The end of the season was bittersweet for the 70-year-old Perrone .
While Salem State was enjoying its most successful season ever, the coach's wife, Jan Perrone, was battling cancer. The coach stayed home in Danvers when the team made road trips so he could spend time with her, and he was prepared to leave the NCAA Regional if she needed him to be by her side. She had to be admitted to the hospital during the tournament, but didn't tell her husband, not wanting him to leave his team.
``She kept calling every morning to see what the scores were," said Perrone. ``A typical coach's wife. I mentally retired 10 times and she talked me out of it. She's been the wind beneath my wings."
Perrone said assistant coach Jason Doviak , who took the reins on the road, and the rest of the coaches and players were like an extended family for him this season.
``We won because we were together all year," said Perrone. ``A real close-knit team and a pleasure to coach. I regard them all as my sons. I guess at my age, grandsons."
Gloucester athletic director to step down at year's end
Gloucester athletic director Bob Roland announced that he is retiring at the end of the school year. The 58-year-old has been the athletic director at his alma mater since 1993, and has been a physical education teacher in the Gloucester public schools for the last 36 years.
Before he took over as athletic director , Roland coached boys' outdoor and indoor track at Gloucester High, off and on beginning in the mid-1970s and was an assistant football coach from 1970 to 1993. Roland will go out with at least one state championship team, as the Gloucester boys' hockey team won the Division 2 state title, 2-1, in overtime in March.
``I've had a lot of wonderful coaches and the ADs I've worked with have been a blessing and, of course, the student-athletes," said Roland. ``The athletic director experience has been a tremendous one."
Lynnfield breaks tennis string by Manchester Essex team
All good things must come to an end and that was the case for the Manchester Essex girls' tennis team. The Hornets had won 24 straight regular-season matches before Lynnfield ended their winning streak, pulling out a 3-2 victory last Thursday.
Lynnfield got the win by sweeping the singles matches. At No. 1, Jennifer George defeated Jordan Evans in straight sets, 6-3, 6-2; Lindsey Buchanan downed Elly Van Faasen, 6-3, 6-7 (4-7), 6-1, in the second singles match; and Abby Carroll edged Lindsey Ferm, 6-4, 5-7, 6-4, in third singles.
Newburyport baseball squad grabs another Cape Ann title
The Newburyport High baseball team clinched its third consecutive Cape Ann League Division 1 title with a 7-1 victory over rival Pentucket Regional last Thursday . Newburyport ace Joe Pace tossed a one-hitter to help deliver veteran coach Bill Pettingell's 16th CAL championship. The Bowdoin-bound Pace, who is the reigning CAL Player of the Year, looks to be a strong bet to repeat. He entered the week 6-0 with a 1.20 ERA and 60 strikeouts in 50 2/3 innings.
10th win does the trick for Magicians softball team
The Marblehead High softball team qualified for the state tournament for the first time in school history with its 3-1 win over Lynn English last Thursday. The victory was the 10th of the season for the Magicians, assuring them a tournament berth. Senior ace Cailey Colantuno fanned 12 batters.
Christopher L. Gasper can be reached at cgasper@globe.com. 
