The Classical and Peabody softball teams spent the better part of last season battling it out for the top spot in the Northeastern Conference North, so their first meeting of 2009 promised to be a good one.The Tanners (2-2) held the edge in the early going, leading 3-1 after four innings, but the Rams came back to tie the game in the fifth and win it, 5-3, thanks to single runs in the sixth and seventh innings.As was the case in their 1-0 win over Salem on Friday, the Rams’ defense answered the call.”It was real nice coming back,” Classical coach Chris Warren said. “They had the bases loaded and no one out in the second and we had two forces at the plate. In the fourth, they had runners on second and third and we gave up one run.”Classical shortstop Hannah Byrne went 3-for-3 with three RBI, all of them coming with two outs. Her single in the fifth drove in two runs and tied the game. Third baseman Jennie Erekson went 2-for-3. She also scored a run and drove in Jill Adams with the go-ahead run in the sixth. First baseman Katie Cuozzo added some insurance with a line drive to left that scored the fifth run.Things got a little hairy for the Rams in the sixth inning when the Tanners had runners on second and third. Classical (4-2) intentionally walked the next batter, a strategy that worked out well when the following batter grounded out to end the threat. Peabody’s Mary Kate Helas went 2-for-3, as did Lauren Tucker.Peabody pitcher Nicole Wilson allowed nine hits and one earned run, walked three and struck out two. Classical pitcher Jenny Garrity gave up five hits, struck out three, walked four and hit three batters.”We didn’t show up to play,” Peabody coach Butch Melanphy said. “Chris’ team did. They played a better game than we did.”Beverly 15, English 3At Keaney Park, the Panthers (6-0, 4-0 NEC) continue to frustrate every team they encounter, with the Bulldogs the latest victim. Beverly scored five runs in the third inning to put this one out of reach.Click here for a photo gallery.”You can’t make any errors against them,” English coach Alisa Fila said. “And they hit the ball really well.”Tiffany Drown (six hits) took the loss for English with Stephanie Scherrer (3 hits) coming on in relief. Beverly pitcher Kristen Lojko only allowed two hits and struck out eight. Courtney Chalifour went 2-for-4 with a double, three RBI and a run scored. Kellie Shea (2-for-3) had a double, three RBI and two stolen bases, and she scored a pair of runs.Valerie Fiaccaprile (RBI single), Cathia Hernandez (single, run scored) and Jackie Trapula (RBI) supplied the offense for English. Lauren Walsh had a walk and scored.