LYNN – With its back to the wall for the first time in district play since 2008, Peabody West showed why it is one of the preeminent Little League programs in the state.Connor Corrigan and Jake Doherty teamed on a one-hitter and Matt D’Amato and Mark Ginnetti each belted 3-run homers as Peabody cruised to a 12-0, 4-inning win over Salem American in a District 16 elimination game at Volunteer Field.”It was nice to see the kids come out fresh (after a loss to Wyoma on Saturday) and fast,” Peabody West coach Ed Aiello said.Peabody pounded out 11 hits in only three at-bats as Salem couldn’t find an answer for the explosive West attack.Corrigan got the start on the mound and worked a perfect top of the first. His team then gave him a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first.Nick Palmer reached on an error to lead things off. A passed ball and groundout put him on third with two down for Corrigan, who ripped a base hit for a 1-0 lead. Pinch runner Sean Wysocki took second on a wild pitch and scored on Zack Crawford’s hit to right.Another perfect inning by Corrigan set the stage for the onslaught in the bottom of the second.Nick Lepore led off with a single and went to third when Christian Kukas’ grounder was thrown away. No. 9 batter D’Amato followed with a long homer to left for a 5-0 lead.Things would only get rougher for Salem starter Wes Schaejbe as Palmer singled and Chris Gillen followed with a double. Hunter Jacques upped the lead to 6-0 with a single and Gillen made it 7-0 when Corrigan’s grounder was misplayed.Crawford walked but was erased on a Doherty fielder’s choice. Wysocki followed with a bunt hit before Ginnetti belted the first pitch he saw over the right field fence to make it 11-0 after two.”Our subs have come in and hit the ball well every game,” Aiello said.Corrigan would get the side again in the third before Peabody added a final run in the bottom of the third when Palmer singled and subsequently took second on an error before crossing on two passed balls.Salem’s Cam Twomey would break up Corrigan’s no-hit bid with a leadoff single in the fourth. Doherty took over from there and got the next three batters to polish off the efficient win.
