There are certainly heady days for Saugus youth baseball, between its Little League success and, now, its growing influence within Babe Ruth.The Saugus National Little League has won the last three District 16 titles, and will play in the winners’ bracket final Tuesday in this year’s tournament. And its success on the small diamond has translated onto the larger field as well. Two of Saugus’ three Babe Ruth teams have made it into the finals in their respective Division 1 tournaments.Both the 13s and 14s now await the rest of the field to sort itself out before returning to action.The 14s sent Wakefield – which won the district title last year as 13s – into the losers’ bracket with a 7-3 win at World Series Park in Saugus Sunday morning.Kenny Runge went all seven innings for Saugus, giving up seven hits, striking out nine, and walking only three.He was also a star offensively, going 2-for-4 with two singles and two runs scored.Other stars for Saugus were Nick Freehling (1-for-3, two-run single) and Al Nahigian (2-run single).Wakefield went up 2-0 in the first, but Saugus tied it in its half on Nahigian’s base hit. Saugus got three more in the third to take a commanding 5-2 lead. The big hit was Freehling’s single, which followed a D.J. Webster single, a double by Ty Kennedy, and a walk to Nehigian.Danny Groark and Scott Enos had the other RBI for Saugus, which plays Tuesday (5:30) against either Wakefield or Peabody.14-year-oldsAt Kennedy Field in Peabody, Saugus edged Salem, 8-7, on Saturday before falling to Peabody, 7-1, on Sunday.Against Salem, Saugus saw its opponent score five times in the sixth to go up 7-3. Saugus, however, responded with five runs of its own in the bottom of the inning. Cameron Zirpolo came on in relief to get the save.Zirpolo also impressed with the bat in that game, going 3-for-4 with two RBI. Peter DiStephano went 4-for-4 with two doubles and two singles from the leadoff spot. Cam Maguire went 2-for-3 with two RBI, and catcher Paul Andrews threw two runners out – one at the plate, and one at second. Saugus recorded 12 hits and five walks as a team in that game.A day later, Peabody took a 3-0 lead in the first inning. Saugus scored a run in the third on Zirpolo’s RBI single, but Peabody added three runs in the fifth and an insurance tally in the seventh. Zirpolo finished the game with a 3-for-4 day at the plate.Saugus continues play today when it faces the Manchester-Salem winner at Peabody (5:30).13-year-oldsAt Cooney Park in Beverly, the 13s have made it this far on the strength of wins over Lynn (7-3) last week; Peabody (10-7) on Thursday; and Danvers (13-3) Saturday.Nick Sweeney led the way, going 3-for-3, with one run, three RBI and a stolen base. A.J. Guthro went 2-for-4 with two runs, two RBI, a stolen base and a double. Also contributing for Saugus was Dominic Dipesa, who was 1-for-4 with a two-run triple.Other offensive stars were Nick Antenucci (1-2, 1 run, 2 RBI), Nick Enos (2-3, run, RBI), Cam Ferry (1-2, RBI), Danny Trensch (run, RBI), Ryan Hennihan (1-2), and Anthony Finnicharo (2-2, 2 runs, 2 RBI).Against Peabody, Dipesa was 3-for-4 with two runs, a double and a stolen base; and Enos was 2-for-4 with two RBI.Saugus moves to the finals.Richard Tenorio assisted with this story.
