Swampscott baseball clobbers Fenwick

SWAMPSCOTT – Judging by its performance on Saturday evening, the Swampscott baseball squad showed that it could be a serious contender when the Division 3 tourney rolls around.The Big Blue (9-7) unleashed a 14-hit attack against Bishop Fenwick behind a four-for-four performance by pitcher Hunter Gordon (two homers, four RBI, while first baseman John Pelletier added two hits (single, homer) and drove in five, as the Big Blue belted the Crusaders, 10-0, at the Swampscott Middle School Field.”We showed great composure at the plate, with great patience (at the bat),” said Swampscott coach T.J. Baril. “And we’ve been taking good swings as well.”Gordon worked four no-hit innings, walking a pair (both in the fourth) and fanning six. He gave way to southpaw Casey Collins, who went the rest of the way and giving up both Crusaders hits (doubles in both the sixth and seventh frames) to perserve the shutout.Swampscott pushed across the only runs that they would need in the first. With one down, shortstop Chris Cameron doubled to center, then moved to third on a single by Gordon. Pelletier, who was celebrating his 18th birthday on Saturday, rifled a single to left to bring across both runners for a 2-0 Big Blue lead.The Big Blue padded its cushion in the third. Centerfielder Steve Moran reached on an infield error, then moved to third when Gordon doubled down the left field line. Catcher Justin Massey (three hits) singled in Moran to give Swampscott a 3-0 edge. Pelletier doubled the margin when he directed the first pitch from Fenwick righty Andrew Guido over the left field fence.”He’s been swinging the bat very well for us,” Baril said of the first baseman. “He’s someone that’s sometimes been overlooked, but he’s a real consistent hitter.”Gordon helped his own cause in the fourth. Moran reached on a fielder’s choice, and Cameron followed with a single. Gordon then sent a rocket flying over the fence in center to increase the lead to 9-0.Gordon, who went over to third in the top of the fifth, ended the scoring with a solo shot in the sixth.”They’re a hard hitting team,” Fenwick coach Russell Steeves said of the Big Blue. “We didn’t help ourselves by swinging at a lot of bad pitches. It’s a great challenge to bat against Hunter (Gordon), and we’ll certainly see that (type of pitching) in the tourney.”Collins fanned the side in the fifth, then retired the first two batters in the sixth. Second baseman Dave Ruggiero then sent a flair to center than Moran made a great dive for, but fell short of the fly with the ball boucing over him for a double. The Crusaders (12-6) would eventually load the bases, but Collins fanned first baseman Tom Moules to end the threat.Fenwick put a pair of runners on in the seventh, but Collins induced Guido to pop to first to end the game.”Casey set the tone for us,” said Baril of the lefty. “He struck out the side in the fifth, and then worked himself out of jams (in the last two innings). We have great confidence in him.”