Saugus 14s’ gallant run ends against Plymouth

NORWOOD – The ride that the Saugus Babe Ruth 14-year-old all-star team took through the Eastern Mass. state tournament ended Saturday night at Balch Park with a 12-8 loss to Plymouth.But the boys from Saugus – seeking to become just the second team in town history to win a state Babe Ruth title – didn’t go down without a fight.Saugus spotted Plymouth a 10-0 lead after three innings, and it looked as if the rout was on. But Jason Harper relieved Scott Enos, who gave it everything he had despite a sore elbow, and held Plymouth at bay for most of the rest of the game. And the Saugus offense was able to chip away and make a game of it – and throw a pretty good scare into Plymouth – before being retired in the seventh with the tying run in the on-deck circle.”The kids didn’t give up,” said manager Ed Groark. “Harper kept us in the game, and we also got a nice game from Eric Penzer (backup catcher, who was pressed into service when starter Steve Blaney took one off the forearm blocking a pitch in the dirt.).”They (Plymouth) hit,” Groark said. “I knew they could hit, but, boy, they came out hitting like crazy tonight.”Plymouth leadoff hitter Bobby Savoia sparked the offense, going 5-for-5, scoring three runs and knocking in two.After falling behind by 10, Saugus scored four runs in the bottom of the third. Harper got things going with a single, Danny Groark followed with a double, and Kenny Runge singled to bring the first two runs home.Singles by Ty Kennedy and Al Nahigian scored the other two.Plymouth got one back in the fourth to make it 11-4, but Saugus answered in the bottom of the inning when Runge doubled and D.J. Webster knocked him in with a single. In the sixth, it became an 11-6 game when Runge singled, stole second, took third on an error and scored on Webster’s base hit.Saugus launched a serious threat in the seventh, after Plymouth got a run in the top of the inning to make it 12-6. Blaney, re-inserted into the lineup, drew a one-out walk and took second on defensive indifference. One out later, Groark knocked him in with a single. Runge moved Groark to third with another single, and Webster bounced one through the hole to score him to make it 12-8. However, Norwood pitcher Chris Roth, who went the distance despite laboring intensely, got the final out to preserve the win.