Saugus Babe Ruth 15s drop tournament opener

SAUGUS – While the Saugus Babe Ruth 15-year-old all-star team has the honor of hosting this year’s Eastern Massachusetts State Tournament at World Series Park, drawing Peabody as an opponent for the events opening game didn’t seem like much of a reward.Peabody’s offense and pitching were clicking on all cylinders on the way to a 7-2 victory, Friday evening.After just one hit through the first two innings, Peabody’s offense found their bearings, and went to work in the third. No. 8 hitter Ryan Shanahan got things going with a sharp one-out double to left before Ryan Carney popped out to second and Jonathan Oliveira was hit by a Joe Bertrand pitch.With two on and two out, Brian Nerich lined a looping single to right-center, scoring both Shanahan and Oliveira who had advanced to second and third on a wild pitch. Number three hitter (and starting pitcher) David Hoar followed with a two-run homer to right field.Saugus would get one back in the bottom of the frame with a little bit of luck. Dan Cacciola led off with Saugus’ first hit of the game before Peabody third baseman Tanner Moquin couldn’t get the ball out of his glove after snaring a Kyle Zabroski grounder, allowing both runners to reach.Anthony Cieri grounded out to shortstop Mike Raymond, advancing both runners before another groundout to short, this time by Victor DeMatteo, scored Cacciola from third. Hoar induced Alex Pettenati into another grounder to short to end the inning.Peabody would get the run right back (and then some) in the fourth. Raymond walked to lead off the inning before coming around on a one-out RBI single from Moquin, who advanced to third on an ensuing Shanahan single. Peabody kept things going with an RBI single from Carney, scoring Moquin, before Shanahan came in on an error by second baseman Chris Mitchell.”We got some timely hitting tonight,” said Peabody manager Steve Hoar of his squad’s offensive outburst in the third and fourth. “Mikey Shanahan had a nice game from the bottom of the order, and the top and middle of the order had some big hits as well.”With a six run cushion, Hoar breezed through the final four innings, only surrendering a meaningless run in the bottom of the fourth. Cacciola came in to score for the second time on an RBI infield single from DeMatteo. The hit would prove to be Saugus’ last, as Hoar finished the game allowing just two hits and as many runs while striking out seven and walking five.”He was phenomenal to–n-ight,” said Saugus manager Mark Mitchell of Hoar’s outing. “He worked the outside corner all night and kept us off balance. He wasn’t overpowering but I think he was frustrating more than anything.”Saugus had a chance to get on the board in the first as they loaded the bases before running themselves out of the inning. Zabroski reached on a wild pitch, third strike, before back to back walks to Cieri and DeMatteo left Hoar in a jam.Pettenati struck out swinging for out number two before Zabroski attempted to catch Hoar off guard with a steal of home. The attempt backfired however as the pitcher caught whiff of the trick and threw home in plenty of time to nail the runner.”We had some chances tonight but didn’t hit in some key situations,” said Mitchell of his team’s shortcoming at the plate. “We loaded the bases in the first, and it hurt us not to score some runs there. I was happy with our pitching and defense, but we need to hit for the rest of the tournament.”