Baseball: English, Peabody face big game after topsy-turvy day

The Northeastern Conference baseball landscape shifted a bit after Monday’s games, as Peabody and English again find themselves tied in the league standings.This happened after the Tanners handed Beverly a 5-3 defeat, and the Bulldogs were shocked by Salem, 2-1.”We (Peabody and English) pretty much will be playing for all of the marbles on Wednesday,” Peabody coach Mark Bettencourt said.Joey Gruntkosky won a duel against Ethan Trowt, earning a victory for the Tanners (11-4). Both players pitched complete games and went 3-for-3 at the plate. Gruntkosky delivered the killer blow, hitting a three-run home run.”(Gruntkosky) made all of the big pitches,” said Bettencourt. “He got into a little trouble on a few different occasions but always battled out.”Pete Sucharewicz also had a strong game at the plate. He went 2-for-2 with a run scored.English (12-4, 10-3 NEC) got a great performance from Gabe Smith on the mound. He allowed only six hits. He also scored the lone Bulldogs run of the game on a wild pitch in the third inning.”(Smith) did a great job out there today,” English coach Joe Caponigro said. “We just had a tough time (scoring runs).”Roberto Reyes got on base four times for the Bulldogs.Teaghan Malionek knocked in the game-winning run for the Witches. Raphy Medrano also had an RBI single.Dan Dobrielski struck out five and walked three to pick up the win.St. Mary’s 7, Spellman 3At Fraser Field, sophomore righty Kurtis White (5-0) went 5 1/3 innings (10 hits, 4 strikeouts, no walks, 1 earned run) for the win with Alex Fiste finishing up to get the save.Click here for a photo gallery.”He (White) did a great job. He didn’t walk anyone. He battled. He got out of jams,” Spartans coach Derek Dana said.The Spartans, who lost to Spellman 8-7 earlier in the season, found themselves trailing 3-0 until the bottom of the third when they exploded for five runs.Alex Glover (2-for-3, RBI, stolen base, sac bunt, run scored); Fiste (2-for-3, double, RBI, stolen base) and Ryan Barrows (3-for-3, single, double, triple, 3 runs scored, stolen base) supplied the offense. St. Mary’s is 11-4 overall, 7-4 in the Catholic Central League.Saugus 7, Marblehead 3At Marblehead, Dan Groark picked up his first career varsity win for the Sachems (4-12, 2-11 NEC) despite only allowing more than four runs once this season.”It was great to get Groark some run support,” Saugus coach Rich Angelo said. “He has pitched great and deserved to get a win.”The Sachems got six runs in the top of the third. K.J. Mills had a great day offensively. He went 2-for-4 with a pair of doubles and a run scored.Classical 18, Revere 2At Revere, Eddie Terrero went 4-for-4, knocking in three runs and scoring twice to lead the Rams. Tyler Gauthier and John Finnigan both hit a home run. Kyle Gauthier lasted five innings, allowing one unearned run on three hits, while striking out one and walking two.Winthrop 6, Gloucester 5At Winthrop, Justin Rowe allowed five runs in the first inning, but then settled down for the Vikings (7-9) and shut the Fishermen down the rest of the way. He went six innings, allowing the five runs on nine hits, while striking out nine. Tyler Pettee hit a pair of triples, knocking in a pair of runs. Joe Boudrow went 2-for-3, with two RBI.