Saugus baseball ousted by North Reading

LYNN – As an 18-seed in the Division 3 North state baseball tournament, the Saugus Sachems were likely overlooked by opponents, earning the label of an underdog. Nevertheless, Saugus found itself playing for a championship berth against No. 3 North Reading in the semis. However, it took a 7th-inning walk-off single to end the Sachems’ magical run, 5-4, as they proved a high seeding is just a number.With two on in the bottom of the final frame, the Hornets’ Kyle Boucher grounded a sharp two-strike single past a diving Al Nahigian at first base, scoring Riley Warnock, and advancing the Hornets (19-4) to the championship game.”I wanted to be in that spot all year long,” said Boucher of the final at-bat. “Coach (Frank) Carey taught me how to hit with a two-strike count and I fell behind 0-2 but was able to drive it for the win.”If Boucher’s heroics were dramatic, then Saugus’s final inning with the bats was downright theatrical.Down to their final strike and trailing 4-2, the Sachems staged a two-out, two run rally to tie things up. Scott Enos reached on an error by shortstop Dennis Rollfs (Reading’s fifth of the game), before starting pitcher Warnock got Danny Groark and Dante DelTorto on fly ball outs.Nahigian kept the Sachems alive with a sharp single down the right field line, moving Enos to third. With Enos’ brother Nick at the plate, a passed ball charged to catcher Keith Linnane allowed Enos to score, cutting the lead to one and leaving Nahigian in scoring position. Enos extended the game with a single up the middle, just scoring Nahigian ahead of the desperate throw home.”Saugus is certainly not a 10-14 team like their record shows, that’s for sure,” said Carey. “They showed tonight that they are more than capable of playing against anybody.”Saugus coach Tom Gaeta was in agreement with Carey, while fighting back the emotion after such a tough loss.”I think we proved tonight that a seeding is really just a number and that nobody should look past us because you never know what can happen,” said Gaeta. “We didn’t play our best game (five total errors also) and neither did North Reading, but we have nothing to be ashamed of. At the same time, North Reading deserved to win; they are a great team and are very well coached.”Saugus was arguably the better team for the first three innings, as it carried a 2-0 lead into the bottom of the fourth. The Sachems scored two in their half of the third with some luck and good fortune.Steve Blaney reached on an infield single as Reading’s first baseman lost the throw from short in the sun, allowing Blaney to reach second. He reached third on an error from Warnock, who threw wildly to third on a Scott Enos ground ball.Enos then distracted Warnock with a delayed steal, drawing another throw to third, which was flubbed, allowing Blaney to score. After getting the next two batters, Warnock yielded an RBI single to Nahigian, giving Saugus a 2-0 lead.The Hornets evened the score in the fourth, which started with back to back singles from Warnock and Colby Maiola. A walk loaded the bases before Groark couldn’t handle a throw from Scott Enos at short, allowing a run to score. The tying run scored on an RBI fielder’s choice from Ryan Boucher.North Reading grabbed the lead in the bottom of the sixth on a two-out, two-run single from pinch hitter Michael Brandano, off reliever Dom DiPesa, who was hit with the loss. All of this gave way to the dramatic conclusion.North Reading now awaits the winner of the other semifinal between Lynnfield vs. Bishop Fenwick. The championship will be played on Saturday at 4 p.m. at LeLacheur Park in Lowell.