Lynn 13s ousted by Braintree in semis

LYNN – The Lynn 13-year-old Babe Ruth all-stars struggled late in the semifinals in a loss to Braintree, 9-3, at Bowser Complex Wednesday night.Lynn coach Steve Moccia was very happy with his team’s overall performance.”My team battled from the first pitch all the way to the last. My team created many scoring chances, as did Braintree throughout. Braintree was able to execute better in the scoring situations than my team. Overall my kids had a great tournament, and represented their city loud and proud,” Moccia said.It was a very close game throughout until the sixth inning approached. Lynn was down 2-1 in the top of the sixth, when Braintree exploded for five runs. Braintree loaded the bases on a walk and two bunt singles and took advantage of the opportunity. It could have been six runs but Lynn’s Kenny Sanchez threw out a Braintree runner at the plate from right field.Lynn found itself down 7-1 in the bottom of the sixth inning but would answer the Braintree explosion. Evan Reddick led off the inning with a walk and Jose Perez followed with a single. With runners on second and third and one out, Tyler Way hit a two-run double that scored Perez and Reddick, which made the score 7-3.Way moved to third on a passed ball and Antonio Felix walked soon after. As Felix walked to first, Way was caught leading off third base by the Braintree catcher for the second out of the inning. Lynn was retired two hitters later, which proved to be the last surge for Lynn.Lynn starting pitcher Andrew Moccia and Braintree starting pitcher Justin Files did a good job leaving opposing runners stranded on base. Through the first three innings, Lynn stranded six runners and Braintree stranded four. Both pitchers were in tight spot after tight spot, but Files finally won the battle on the hill.Lynn only scrapped two hits off Files and never got one with runners in scoring position. Moccia did his best to give Lynn a chance to take a lead in the game but Lynn could never do so, with Files making clutch pitches when needed.Lynn also left 10 total runners stranded for the game. Five of those 10 were left in scoring position. Lynn had the bases loaded with two outs in the first (scored none) and had runners on second and third with one out in the second (scored none).Lynn had strong performances from Perez (1-1, HBP, run scored), Reddick (2 walks, on base three times, run scored), Matt Lauria (RBI), and Way (1-4, 2 RBI). Herbie Newton had a very strong tournament defensively at third base.