Wyoma Little League seeks to keep magic season alive

LYNN – Having slugged its way through the District 16 tournament, Wyoma is set to take the next step on its journey toward the Little League World Series tonight (7:30) at Beverly’s Harry Ball Field in the Massachusetts Section 4 tournament.Wyoma’s task tonight won’t be easy though as it faces District 15 champion Peabody West, who fought out of the losers’ bracket to beat Beverly East twice and take it’s third consecutive district title. In doing so, West became the first team in 23 seasons to pull that feat off.West’s charge through District 15 has the attention of Wyoma manager Dan O’Neil.”Peabody West is a very, very good team,” O’Neil said. “They have excellent pitching, solid defense and their hitting has gotten better ? For the last few years, the road to a state title has gone through them. THey are a powerhouse program.”Peabody West also happens to be the two-time defending champion of the sectional, having bested Saugus National in each time to qualify for the state tournament. Last year, West lost to Walpole American in Pittsfield in the state finals. Walpole American eventually ended up advancing to Williamsport.In 2006, Peabody traveled to Oxford and bested Barnstable National, 6-5, in the finals to win the state title before eventually losing to Glastonbury, CT in the New England regional semifinals.In this year’s tournament, West rolled to wins over Groveland, Beverly West and Salem American before losing to Beverly East, 3-1, in the winner’s final.Peabody rebounded with an 11-0 win over Salem National to get its second shot at Beverly East. And led by the pitching of Tyler Noe and 11-year old Austin Batchelor, son of West manager Dave Batchelor, West clinched title No. 3.”Their bats have improved in the last couple of games, so we’ll have to play our best to beat them,” O’Neil said. “But we’ll be ready.”But if any team is capable of taking on the 3-time champs, it’s Wyoma.In its four wins in district play, Wyoma scored 59 runs and belted an astounding 13 home runs, eight of them coming from Brendan Tobey.Wyoma opened their run with a 14-0 win over Revere and followed that with a 15-4 win over Swampscott. A 17-4 win over Saugus National, a game in which Wyoma hit five homers, preceded a 13-5 win over Swampscott in the district finals. Ironically, the last time the sectional was in Beverly, Wyoma was in it in 2004, beating Hamilton-Wenham before losing to Wakefield National and Andover National.”We have a nice little team and this will be a good challenge for us,” O’Neil said.Unlike Peabody, Wyoma has had to sit on the sidelines for the better part of a week since winning last Sunday. That layoff is something that O’Neil isn’t too worried about.”The kids are excited to play again. But it’s a concern. We’ve had practices almost every day and we’ve done out best to minimize the layoff,” O’Neil said.Wyoma ace Cam O’Neil is expected to get the ball tonight and will go up against Noe, West’s No. 1 arm and the lone returnee from last year’s team.”(Tonight) is obviously a very big game,” O’Neil said. “That first win is the big thing.”To prepare for playing under the lights, Wyoma practiced Wednesday night at Swampscott.”It’s going to be a great atmosphere,” O’Neil said. “They have a great complex over there and there should be a big crowd.”In the opening game of the tournament, District 13 champion Stoneham will take on District 14 champion Billerica American.