Baseball: Classical comes from behind to defeat Winthrop

The Classical baseball team found itself down late in the game at Winthrop with just one out to work with. The Rams were able to generate timely hitting and aggressive baserunning to come from behind and steal one away from the Vikings, 8-7, at Winthrop Friday night.Classical was down 7-5 at the end of six innings. Jorge Perez led off the top of the seventh with a single for the Rams, and Kyle Devin followed with a walk. The next two batters struck out and flew out, respectively. On the flyout, Perez and Devin moved up to second and third. Brett Erelli stepped in the batter’s box with two outs and hit the game-tying two-run single that scored Perez and Devin (making the score 7-7). Adonis Llano pinch-ran for Erelli, which ended up being a huge move. Llano stole second, and on the steal the Winthrop catcher threw the ball away to centerfield and Erelli moved to third. The Viking centerfielder picked up the errant throw and threw the ball away trying to throw out Llano going to third, and Llano scored on the error to give Classical an 8-7 lead.”This was a big win for us,” said Classical coach Mike Zukowski. “Our league this year is very tough, and to be able to come back and win a game on the road is huge for us. It wasn’t pretty at times, but we never gave up and I am very proud of the boys.”Joe Rose had a big day at the plate for the Rams (2-2, 2 walks, run scored, 2 RBI, 3 stolen bases). Perez finished the day going 2-4, with two runs scored and an RBI. Classical evens its record at 4-4.Saugus 9, Revere 4At Revere, the Sachems (5-4) put five runs on the board in the first inning and held on the rest of the way. Dante DelTorto went 5 1/3 innings for the win. He allowed eight hits, struck out five and walked two with Jaycub Leiber finishing up in relief. Leiber inherited a bases-loaded situation with one out. One run came in, but he shut the door on the other two.Tom Trainor had an RBI single in the first inning and DelTorto a two-run, two-out single. Also contributing with the bat were Peter Pulicari (2-for-3, RBI); Ryan Henehan (2-for-4, double, 3 RBI) and Dom DiPesa (solo home run).”They scored five on us in the first inning and we couldn’t come back,” Revere coach Nick Faggas said. “Our bats didn’t do it today.”Kyle Norton started and took the loss for the Patriots (3-6). Revere is home Sunday (1) against Danvers. The Sachems play Classical Monday at Fraser Field.St. John’s 11, Bishop Fenwick 2At Danvers, the Eagles (10-1) held a 3-2 lead after four innings, but the bats started heating up in the fifth on the way to a six-run sixth inning. Tom Buonopane (4-for-4, 4 runs, 4 RBI) had a huge day at the plate with a home run in the first inning and one in the fifth. He also had an RBI single in the third inning and an RBI double in the sixth.Nick Bragole (3-for-4, 4 RBI) had a solo home run in the fifth (he and Buonopane had back-to-back pokes) and he had a three-run homer in the sixth. He also had a single.Mike Driscoll started on the mound for the Eagles. He went three innings (5 hits, 2 strikeouts, 2 walks, 2 earned runs). Jack Burke came on and had a stellar relief effort. He faced nine batters and no one reached base. Evan Roberts pitched the final inning and went 1-2-3.Peabody 1, Marblehead 0At Peabody, Pat Ruotolo (3-0) allowed only two hits and struck out 13, and walked zero for the Tanners (9-1).”Pat was the show tonight,” said Peabody coach Mark Bettencourt. “He really threw the ball exceptional tonight and it was a good thing he did.”Peabody scored its only run of the game in the bottom of the third inning. Matt McIsaac hit what ended up being the game-winning RBI single, which scored Mike Petrosino. Petrosino (2-4, run scored) and McIsaac (2-3, RBI) were the bright spots in the Peabody lineup.Marblehead pitcher Scott Temme took the loss. He went five innings, allowing six hits and one run. Tom Koopman, Connor Green and Brett LeBlanc accounted for the Magicians’ three hits. Marblehead is now 3-5.