Roundup: Tanners’ rally topples English, 8-6

Trailing Lynn English, 6-3, Peabody needed a spark and pinch-hitter Max Gordon delivered it in the sixth inning. Gordon’s one-out RBI double cut the Bulldogs’ lead to 6-4 and four of the next five Tanners contributed hits to a five-run rally that produced an 8-6 win.”No question, Max’s hit was the catalyst. Hitting can be contagious,” said Peabody coach Mark Bettencourt. “We did not play very good defense the first half of the game. Our pitchers were throwing strikes but we let them down with five errors that gave them four unearned runs. But the offense didn’t hang their heads – they picked themselves up and, as a coach, it’s a good feeling to know that they’re that resilient.”Mike Petrocino followed Gordon with an RBI single. Steve Leavitt then singled and stole second, putting runners at second and third for sophomore Ryan Collins, who delivered a game-winning two-run single to right. Brandon Polignone’s two-out RBI single capped the rally.Peabody ace Pat Ruotolo struck out the side in the seventh for the save. Andrew McLaughlin worked the sixth to pick up the win after starter David Apostolides went five innings.The Tanners took an aggressive approach, swiping 11 bases. Petrocino (2-for-2, two SBs), Polignone (2-for-4, two RBI) and Frank Lowry (2-for-4, two doubles) triggered Peabody’s 11-hit attack.The teams matched three-run first innings before the Bulldogs built their lead with single runs in the fourth, fifth and sixth innings. Matt Merritt had three hits and two RBI while Drew Gentile had two hits and drove in a run for English. Merritt got the start and worked five and one-third innings before being relieved by Dana Stevens.”I thought we battled and Matt settled down nicely after the first inning. In the sixth inning they got a couple of seeing-eye hits and we didn’t make a play we should have. That’s baseball,” said English coach Joe Caponigro.Both teams are back in action this morning at 10 with Peabody (3-1) at Salem and English (1-1) at home against Revere.St. Mary’s 14, Gr. Lowell 1At Fraser Field, the Spartans (3-0, 2-0 CCL) had quite a few standouts on offense. Among them were Chris Butler (2-3, 4 RBI), Danny Donovan (1-3, triple, 2 RBI), Justin O’Blenes (2-2, 1 RBI, 2 steals, 2 runs) and Brendan Deleire (2-4, 1 RBI). Deleire got the win (5 IP, 2 BB, 5 K, 0 ER, 0 R, 2 H) for his second victory of the season.BOYS LACROSSEPeabody 16, Medford 9At Peabody, the Tanners picked up their first win behind dominant offensive performances from Keifer Heckman (seven goals, assist) and Nick Lette (three goals, four assists).