The Pine Hill Little League all-stars gave Salem American a run for the money before finally succumbing 8-7 in District 16 action at Peabody National.Salem took what looked to be a commanding 7-1 lead, but Pine Hill chipped away and made it a game before relief pitcher Cam Twoomey struck out the final batter with runners on second and third, two outs and a full count.Salem got the job done with the long ball. After tying the game at 1-1 in the top of the second inning, Matt Ryan and Paul Gauthier got down to business. Ryan hit a solo home run and Gauthier a two-run blast to give Salem a 4-1 lead.Salem added three more runs in the fourth inning, sparked by back-to-back-to-back singles by Aiden Dooley, Jake Erb and Toomey. The 7-4 lead went to 8-4 on Ryan’s second home run of the game in the top of the sixth. Ryan, who had started on the mound, left in the fifth inning with a sore shoulder. The bases were loaded with no outs.Twoomey came on in relief and pitched well, but Pine Hill scored three runs in the sixth to make things interesting. The loss eliminates Pine Hill from the tournament. Salem will play a week from today.Peabody National 3, WLA 1At Pine Hill, Peabody pitcher Jack Palmachuck played Scrooge on the mound, allowing only one hit (bottom of the fourth inning). Peabody put two runs on the board in top of the third inning, courtesy of a Jake Zeuli two-run home run over the centerfield fence. The Nats added one more in the fifth when Zeuli walked and came around to score on a groundout by Vasili Stefanopoulos.”It was good to get a win,” Peabody coach Eric Dollin said. “Hopefully we can build some momentum.”Palmachuck had five strikeouts and only walked one in the win. Pat Maguire pitched the final inning in relief.WLA scored its run in the bottom of the sixth inning to make the score 3-1. Sean Devin ended up scoring on a hit batter, but that was all the offense West Lynn could muster, leaving the bases loaded.George Dimis started and went five innings for West Lynn. Jonathan Nicosia finished up in relief.Second baseman Eric Pedro made a couple of diving stops and shortstop Cam Vatour flashed some leather as well. WLA lost its first game, 3-2, to Wyoma. West Lynn is out of the tournament with last night’s loss.Peabody plays Thursday against Lynn Shore at Swampscott (5:45).