Roundup: Swampscott wins despite being no-hit by Peabody National

Swampscott began its defense of its District 16 championship in one of the weirdest ways a defending champion has in recent memory.Facing newcomer Peabody National, Swampscott pushed across runs in the first and third innings to take a 2-0 win at Reinfuss Field despite being no-hit by the combination of Jake Zeuli and Vasili Stefanopoulos.”I was nervous about playing this team because they have a stud in Zeuli,” Swampscott manager Lou Oliveri said. “But my pitcher, Dan Muller, did a great job of spotting his pitches.”Muller was brutally efficient in going the distance, striking out nine and allowing only two hits.Swampscott gave Muller all the run support he would need in the first thanks to a bases loaded walk to A.J. Venuti that scored Louis Oliveri. An insurance run would come in the third when Venuti lifted a sacrifice fly with the bases loaded that scored Kevin Lombard.Zeuli started but left in the second inning in favor of Stefanopoulos, who shut the door on Swampscott over the final three innings.Muller, though, was a little bit better as he held a potent National lineup to just one hit before Zeuli singled in the sixth.”We played good defense behind Dan,” Oliveri said. “But we have to hit a little bit better. Their kids did a great job against us.”Swampscott is off until Friday (5:45) when it plays Nahant. Peabody National is back in action today (5:45) at Pine Hill against West Lynn American.Winthrop 5, Pine Hill 3At Reinfuss Field, the game was tied at 3-3 in the sixth before Winthrop belted a 2-run homer to get the win.”We made a couple of mistakes that cost us the game,” Pine Hill manager Dave Stanley said.Evan Reddick had a pair of hits while Matt Stanley and Nick Lilia pitched well for the Hillies. Pine Hill plays Salem American Tuesday (5:45) at MacArthur Park in Peabody in an elimination game.Peabody West 12, Revere 1 (4 innings)At Swampscott, the five-time District 15 champs made their first game in District 16 memorable as Hunter Jaques belted a grand slam to lead the way for West.”We didn’t know what to expect coming in,” Peabody manager Frank Benea said. “Our bench did a great job for us.”Peabody American 2, Salem American 0At Grabowski Field in Saugus, Alex Gomes pitched 5 2/3 innings of two-hit ball as Peabody got two doubles and two runs scored from Ryan Newbury.”It really was a great Little League game to watch,” Peabody manager Don Shaw said.Frank Celona had an RBI double in the sixth for the Americans, who also scored on a passed ball in the second.SOFTBALLSwampscott 12, PH-WLA 9At Swampscott, the defending district champs moved into today’s winner’s bracket final after surviving a gallant comeback from the visitors. Veronica Rizzo got the win on the mound.Wyoma 5, Saugus 4At Lynn Woods Field, Ally Dunnigan and Michaela Hamill teamed to pitch the hosts into the winner’s final today (5:45) at Wyoma against Swampscott.Jessica DeJoie and Rachel Fisher each had RBIs for Wyoma, who scored twice in the first and three times in the third inning.