MIAA Baseball: Locals aim to land in finals at Fraser

A little under three weeks from now, a bushel full of area teams would like to make a visit to Fraser Field when the venerable Lynn ballpark hosts the Division 1, 2 and 3 state finals on June 18.For one of those local teams, just being in the postseason is quite a bonus.Sitting at 6-10 with four games remaining, things didn’t look promising for the Lynn English baseball team. But the Bulldogs beat Revere, Classical, St. Mary’s and North Reading in the Clancy Tournament final to earn a spot in the Division 1 North tournament.The Bulldogs, seeded 19th, will travel to Newton South on Thursday (4) in a preliminary round contest.”We are so happy to be here,” English coach Joe Caponigro said. “Newton South comes from a good league and is known for hitting. But we are definitely peaking at the right time.”The Division 1 North bracket is loaded with local teams as NEC North champion Peabody garnered the No. 4 spot and will take on either red-hot Malden Catholic or Newton South on Saturday (5) at Bezemes Diamond.”I like the spot that we’re in,” Peabody coach Mark Bettencourt said.Defending sectional champion St. John’s Prep had a rough patch through the middle of the season but steadied the ship and earned the No. 7 seed and a rematch with No. 10 Central Catholic on Thursday (4). The Eagles beat the Raiders, 9-5, in the season finale this past weekend.DIVISION 2 NORTHAfter a six-year absence, Classical returns to the postseason as the No. 15 seed and will take on No. 2 Reading on Thursday (2:30) in Reading.The Rams, who struggled to a 1-5 record down the stretch after starting 9-5, have been led all season by a mix of upperclassmen and a talented sophomore and junior class.”If we swing the bats like I know we can and Kyle (Gauthier) can throw strikes and keep the ball down, I like our chances,” Classical coach Mike Zukowski said.Classical’s task will not be easy on Thursday as the Rockets finished 16-4 and second behind unbeaten Lexington in the Middlesex League.Danvers was the surprise champion of the NEC South this season and earned the No. 3 spot after a coin flip with Reading. The Falcons open at home on Friday (6:30) against Belmont and have a potential second-round date with No. 6 Marblehead.The Magicians were second to the Falcons in the South, finishing with a 13-7 record under coach Jason Tarasuik.Beverly was second to Peabody in the NEC North and earned the No. 5 seed and a home game against Wilmington on Friday (3).DIVISION 3 NORTHLocal teams hold four of the top seven spots in one of the most competitive sectionals on paper.Catholic Central League/Large champions for a third straight year, Bishop Fenwick leads the local contingent with the No. 3 seed after a 15-5 regular season. The Crusaders host either Charlestown or Stoneham on Saturday in a first-round game.The Crusaders had to fight St. Mary’s and Austin Prep down the stretch for the CCL title and the Spartans and Cougars would be considered serious threats to do some damage.St. Mary’s earned the No. 5 spot after a three-way coin flip with Lynnfield and Swampscott and hosts No. 12 Pentucket on Thursday (4) at Fraser Field.The Pioneers earned the No. 6 spot and will take on another CCL team, No. 11 Arlington Catholic, on Thursday (4); Swampscott hosts No. 10 Austin on Thursday.For the Big Blue, the season got off to a 1-3 start but coach T.J. Baril’s team was among the best in the NEC during the second half of the season.”With a three-way coin flip you never know what you’re going to get,” Baril said. “Austin finished second in the CCL and we know they are very good. I expect it to be a battle.”Saugus made a Cinderella run to the North semis a year ago and is back in the underdog role again as the No. 17 seed and will take on No. 16 Madison Park in a prelim game.