Wyoma Little Leaguers defeat Saugus National

SAUGUS – Heroes come in all sizes.On Monday in a District 16 Little League All-Star thriller at Saugus, Big David Barnard belted two long home runs into the Saugus woods and equally big and strong Kyle Bernardini pitched what he called “my best game ever” to lead Wyoma to a 7-3 triumph over the never-say-die Saugus Nationals.Click here for a photo gallery.Yet it was the perhaps the tiniest player in the tournament who almost stole the show. Zac Elwell, who stands 4-foot-2 in cleats, came up bigger than Mount Rushmore with nine exciting fielding plays at second base and gutsy relief pitching, coming on to relieve closer Tommy Cash with the sacks loaded and the tying run at the plate in the final inning.”I thought to myself,” Elwell said, “that I better get this batter out or I am in very deep trouble.”Wyoma coach Ed Cash said: “Little Zac has a good curve and good control and was the relief pitcher who got the final out to beat West Lynn American the day before. So in he came.”Elwell threw his curveball, but it was whacked to right field, where Tommy Cash was now playing. Tommy Cash said, “The drive was sinking fast and I was worried it would fall in (for maybe two or three runs) but I kept my eye on it all the way into my glove for the final out.”Wyoma advances to face Saugus American today at McMackin Field in Revere (5:45).The game started with a bang. Barnard, 11, led off the second inning for Wyoma by smashing the first pitch he saw into the trees in left. Cash later doubled and red-hot Christian Burt followed with an RBI double. It was 2-0.Saugus ace Jack O’Brien had most Lynn batters off-balance but Bernardini, a St. Mary’s 7th-grader who is a straight-A student, walloped a single off the fence and scored when Cash registered another RBI hit, making it 3-0.Saugus had back-to-back bunts for hits in a rally in the third, but Elwell gobbled up the other near hits.Six-footer Dax Billingsley got hit by a pitch in Wyoma’s fifth when Barnard again thundered to the plate, this time hitting a longer and higher home run than he did earlier. Cash and David Furtado drew walks and Spencer DiVirgilio slammed a hit for one run and Elwell a hit for another for a 7-0 lead.Saugus fans and players chanted, “It’s not over. It’s not over,” and O’Brien proved that it wasn’t by igniting a rally with an infield hit. Andy Mikedis took one for the team, putting runners on first and second. Colby Murphy followed with a behind-the-mound roller, which caused a painful collision between Lynn shortstop Burt and second baseman Elwell. The bases were now full as both injured players lay motionless on the grass. Coaches ran to the rescue. Elwell got up but Burt remained face down for a long time. It grew quiet in the park. Finally, Burt stirred, and rose in very slow motion and when he stood up, he received a huge ovation.It was also Bernardini’s last pitch as he reached the limit of 85. Coach Cash brought in his son Tommy, who allowed a walk and a single to shrink the lead to 7-3, and even though Elwell made another fielding gem for the second out, the score was not safe with a long-ball hitter coming up.”I (dreaded) that a grand slam would tie the game,” admitted Coach Cash.Cash and Al DiVirgilio then took Tommy Cash off the mound and brought in Elwell. His pitch was belted to right ? and looked like a sure hit that would clear the bases, but there was Tommy Cash and his faithful glove waiting to snag it for the final out.