Baseball: Classical wins extra-inning thriller over Salem

The Classical baseball team trailed for most of the game against Salem, but the Rams never gave up and defeated the Witches in an extra-inning thriller 10-7 at Salem State Thursday.”This was the best my team has played all year. My kids never got down on themselves and always fought back. My kids never gave up and it was great to be a part of,” Rams coach Mike Zukowski said.Classical was down 6-3 going into the seventh inning. Pinch hitter Ryan Hayward led off with a single, Kyle Gauthier singled and Wilfredo Feliz walked. Joe Rose hit a two-run single. Angel Tavares hit a two-out, two-run double to give Classical its first lead, 7-6. Salem tied the score in the bottom of the seventh. The Rams scored three runs in the top of the eighth (Joe Rose hit a 2-run double to make it 9-7 and subsequently scored for Classical’s 10th run), and Greg Rybak pitched a perfect bottom of the eighth to close out the game. Rose had a monster day at the plate (3-3, 2 runs scored, 4 RBI). John Finnigan had a strong day at the dish (2-4, 1 run scored). Classical (9-6) squares up against rival English Wednesday.St. Mary’s 10, Melrose 0At Fraser Field, the Spartans (11-6) got off to a fast start with a seven-run second inning. Kurtis White had a strong day on the mound (7 innings, 4 hits, 0 runs, 0 walks, 2 strikeouts). White also helped himself out at the plate (3-4, 2 RBI). Alex Fiste had a strong day at the dish (2-3, 2 triples, 2 RBI). Steve Carroll’s hot hitting continued (3-4, RBI). Joe Kasper had a strong day at the plate (2-3, 2 RBI).Swampscott 9, Danvers 4At Swampscott, the Big Blue (11-6) scored five runs in the fifth inning to break open a 4-4 game. Swampscott’s Nick Meninno was the winning pitcher (7 innings, 8 hits, 3 walks, 6 strikeouts, 4 runs). Meninno helped his own cause by hitting a three-run home run. Frank Legere (4 hits, 4 SB, run, RBI); Justin Perry (3 hits, RBI); Justyn Fischer-Block (2 hits, 2 runs, 2 RBI, 2 SB) and A.J. Baker and Trevor Massey, two hits and an RBI each, provided the firepower.Danvers (15-4) used three pitchers, Conor Kelleher, Chris Lockwood and Zach Ryan, with Ryan getting the loss. Ray Arocho, Greg Little and Nick Valles each had two hits.Beverly 18, Revere 2At Beverly, the Panthers (11-6) had a 12-run third inning. Leading the Beverly offense was Joe Wioncek (3 hits, 4 RBI). Pat Wilson and Chris Mitchell both had two hits and four RBI. Anthony DiOrio had a strong day at the plate (2 hits, 1 RBI). Dan Cashman picked up the win (6 innings, 6 strikeouts, 1 walk, 5 hits).Northeast 9, Tech 2At Tech, Tech dug itself an early hole and could never recover. Jose-Luis Canela had a strong day at the dish for Tech (2 doubles). Elvis Aquino also had a strong day at the plate (double, 1 RBI). Tech finished the season at 1-14.