Wyoma edges West Lynn in City Series action

LYNN – It wasn’t Ali vs. Frazier ? but it was still a tremendous and thrilling showdown between two tough combatants Thursday when the Wyoma A’s knocked out the West Lynn American Red Sox 6-5 in the semifinals of the Lynn Little League City Series.Electrifying Eric Pedro, who had hit five home runs in this series for the Red Sox, and who had one home run in this game, dueled younger Bobby Alcock, who was born on the 4th of July 11 years ago. Pedro at 13 was the hottest hitter in town. It was quite a show. The Sox had built a 5-0 lead with Lou Vidal excelling on the mound.Wyoma fought back to 5-2 (Shawn Sarrette pitched well but tired) and in the fourth, Alcock, a one-man bullpen, was on in relief again. The right-hander fanned lefty Pedro on a low and outside strike, suggested by catcher Quinn Brinkler after a signal from his coach. Pedro made a sweeping swing that missed.Then came the last inning. Alcock again went nose-to-nose with Pedro, this time with Wyoma protecting its wafer-thin 6-5 edge. Pedro went for a KO.This time, Brinkler signaled low and inside, and Alcock got the strikeout.There was still one last hope for Manager Sean Leydon’s league champion Red Sox. Dave Hunter, a home run threat, loomed at the plate. Alcock fired a sizzling fastball right down the pipe. Hunter’s swing caused a positive roar from the fans, but the ball went straight up a mile into the sky and 4-foot-2 Zach Elwell called for it near the mound. The ball smacked cleanly into Elwell’s glove for the game-ending out, and all the A’s came running onto the field to celebrate.Wyoma, which got another super all-around game from A.J. Luciano, now must face another heavyweight on Saturday, the Pine Hill Reds, who are 2-0 and must be beaten twice. The showdown is at Wyoma at 5.There were many other heroes in Thursday’s thriller. Dax Billingsley hit a three-run triple in the fifth to tie the game 5-5. The Red Sox had led 5-0. And then there was Anthony Nikolakakis, who came up with the go-ahead run in Billingsley on third. Nikolakakis stroked a fly ball deep to right for a sacrifice fly to the right fielder, who made a good catch ? but Billingsley, looking like a sprinter, scored easily with the winner.