Roundup: Rams, Spartans have busy weekend in baseball

The Lynn Classical baseball team endured a mixed-bag weekend, dropping an eight-inning affair at Beverly yesterday after knocking off Salem Saturday, 7-4. Sunday’s tilt saw the Rams and Panthers combine for 29 hits. Both teams are now 11-5 overall.”We knew we’d have to score some runs against them because they’ve been swinging the bats. Both teams played very good defense. It was just one of those games where both teams hit the ball well and somebody had to lose,” said Classical coach Mike Zukowski.Trailing, 6-3, through three innings, the Rams rallied for three runs in both the fourth and fifth innings for a 9-7 lead after five. Beverly responded with single runs in the sixth and seventh to force extra play. Classical scored twice for an 11-9 lead only to see Beverly counter with three runs in the bottom of the eighth, winning it on a walk-off base hit to right.Kyle Devin had two RBI and three hits, including a double and triple. John Finnigan had three hits with two RBI and Mike Crisostomo had three hits, including a home run, and two RBI. Kyle Gauthier added two hits and two runs scored and Jorge Perez had a hit and two runs scored.Against Salem, the junior Perez pitched a complete-game five-hitter and struck out four to run his record to 4-2. The catcher Devin went 3-for-4 with a two-run homer and three RBI while Gauthier had three hits and scored three runs. David DePena added two hits while Finnigan and Ryan Hayward both drove in two runs.Spartans drop twoAt Lynn, St. Mary’s dropped a 6-4 extra-inning affair to Billerica last night and a 5-0 verdict to Arlington Catholic in the resumption of a suspended game on Saturday. The Spartans, now 8-8, must win two of four this week to return to the post-season.Click here for a photo gallery.On Sunday, Merrimack Valley Large champion Billerica overcame a 4-2 deficit with two runs in the fifth and won it with two runs in the top of the eighth. Joe Kasper pitched well in defeat, working 7.1 innings, yielding four hits while striking out five. St. Mary’s tied it at 2-2 in the second on back-to-back doubles by Scott Betts and Brandon Polignone and a Billerica throwing error. In the third, Cam O’Neil singled, stole second and scored on a Kasper base hit. In the fourth, Brendan Mageary singled and eventually scored on an error.On Saturday, the Spartans couldn’t solve AC’s Evan Walsh, who struck out 11 and allowed one hit. Victor Molle whiffed 13 for the Spartans but three unearned runs in the seventh sealed the deal for AC.Danvers 1, M’head 0At Twi Field, the Magicians (9-9) were held to one hit, an infield single from Casey Stead. Danvers (13-4) won it in the ninth inning on a 1-out walk, a wild pitch, an infield groundout and an RBI single.Brian Daly (6 IP, 3 K, 3 BB, 1 H) started for Marblehead. Ross Gienieczko pitched the final two and two-thirds innings, allowing one run on three hits and fanning three.Lynnfield 6, Pentucket 3At Lynnfield, the Pioneers (14-3) put themselves in position to claim a share of the Cape Ann League Div. 2 championship if they can defeat division leader North Reading in tomorrow’s league finale. Steve Lambe scattered six hits in six innings and Chris DeHuelle earned the save with a clean seventh inning.The Pioneers put it away with a three-run sixth inning as Traverse Briana (two hits) stroked a two-run single and Jordan Roper added an RBI single. Doubles by Briana and B.J. Neal triggered a two-run second inning and Pete Franchi had a bases-loaded walk for a run in the fifth.”Stevie did a great job. He kept the ball down and we played great defense behind him, turning two double plays. A lot of guys contributed and it was fitting that the seniors did it on our Senior Day. We have 10 seniors graduating,” said coach John O’Brien.Matignon 7, Fenwick 1At Cambridge, the Crusaders (10-8) committed a number of errors and paid the price against the Catholic Central Large leaders. Mike McKenzie (two hits) drove in Eric Razney with Fenwick’s lone run in the fifth i