Peabody baseball outlasts Classical in 15 innings

The Classical baseball team played, quite possibly, the game of the season against conference foe Peabody. The Rams came up just short, 2-1, in a 15-inning affair Wednesday afternoon at Fraser Field.Each side only needed only two pitchers to account for all 15 innings of play. Classical used Jorge Perez as the starter and Joey Rose in relief; Peabody (5-1) used Andrew McLaughlin as the starter and Pat Ruotolo in relief. The Tanners had only planned to use Ruotolo for one inning (if needed) but that turned into 8.2 innings (5 hits, 12 strikeouts, 2 walks, 0 runs).”I really wanted to win this game,” said Peabody coach Mark Bettencourt. “I did not intend on using Pat for an extended appearance at all, but once you are in the heat of the battle, I really wanted to get this one.”McLaughlin started the game on the hill for the Tanners (6.1 innings, 6 hits, 7 strikeouts, 1 run). Perez started on the mound for Classical and held the Peabody offense to only one run, in the first inning (8 innings, 4 hits, 1 run, 3 walks, 10 strikeouts).”Jorge was unbelievable today,” said Classical coach Mike Zukowski. “Jorge was pinpoint with every pitch and did not make one mistake after the first inning. I can’t say enough about his performance today other then simply amazing.”Joey Rose relieved Perez and stymied the Tanner offense most of the way (6 innings, 1 run, 2 hits, 5 walks).The Tanners got on the board in the top of the first inning, when Frank Lowry hit an RBI double that scored Mike Petrosino. Peabody led 1-0 until the bottom of the sixth inning. Classical’s Brad Scuzzarella led off with a double, and Perez hit an RBI single that tied the game 1-1. Peabody finally broke through in the top of the 15th inning, when Petrosino hit the game-winning double that drove in Tanner Moquin. Ruotolo picked up the win, and also recorded his 300th career strikeout.”In all my time at Peabody, I have only seen two others record 300 strikeouts,” said Bettencourt. “This is quite an accomplishment for this young man.”The Ram offense came from the brother duo of Kyle Devin (3-6, 2 doubles) and freshmen Brandon Devin (2 hits, first-ever varsity appearance).”This was such a hard-fought game, it’s tragic that someone has to lose such a well-played game,” said Zukowski. “I am so proud of my guys for their performance, it was an honor to coach and watch.”Classical (2-3) will look to bounce back against rival English next Monday.