Saugus National ends West Lynn American’s tourney early

SAUGUS – The West Lynn American Little League All-Star team saw its tournament hopes come to an end on Monday evening at Grabowski Field in an 8-4 loss to Saugus National. While it wasn’t exactly a “home game” for the Nationals, they sure treated the Americans’ diamond on Hurd Ave. like they owned it.View Photo GalleryAfter a shaky start and a 4-1 deficit, Saugus pitcher Todd Tringale settled down in the third before his offense turned it up in the bottom of the frame. Tringale, who had surrendered mirror image two-run homers in the previous innings, would strike out the side (all looking) in the game-changing inning.Sensing their chance to take over, the Saugus bats woke up with back-to-back singles from Ronnie Paolo and Adam Rodrigues before an RBI base hit by three-hitter C.J. Graffeo. After getting Ryan Groark swinging, Lynn starter Ethan L’Abbe surrendered a three-run shot to Louis Tretola.”The top of our order has been getting on base and Louis came through with a huge hit for us,” explained Nationals coach Patrick Groark. “We know we can hit one through 12 so when we went down early we were a little nervous I think, but we stayed focused and stuck with it.”The hosts put the game out of reach in their half of the fourth after L’Abbe was removed at 75 pitches following a walk to Tringale. Aedon Leydon came on in relief to a rude welcoming, starting with Paolo, who reached on a single to third.Rodrigues and Graffeo followed with an RBI groundout and single, respectively, before the latter came around to score on an RBI double from Groark to the base of the left field wall. Comfortably ahead, Tringale (89 pitches) lasted through five full innings before Christian Correia came on for the save.”He pitched well after those first two innings,” said Groark of his starting, and winning, pitcher. “Going down four runs didn’t seem to rattle him and he settled down and just kept battling.”Though two innings, it looked like the visitors would be the team continuing its tournament quest, thanks to some early pop in their bats.After a walk to Leydon to start the first, Tringale surrendered a one-out, two-run bomb to Lou Vidal. The visitors would get two more singles from Matt Devin and Will Hunter in the inning, but Tringale fought his way out of any more damage.The hosts would get one back in their first at-bats on an RBI single by Rodrigues, which scored Paolo, who reached second on a misplay in center. Lynn would turn to the long ball again in the second inning to increase the lead.No. 9 hitter Mo Sequiera reached on a miscue by Paolo, the second baseman, who couldn’t corral a flip from Groark. After getting the second out and ahead in the count to L’Abbe, Tringale left a fastball over the middle, which was drilled over the fence in right-center to put Lynn up three.Saugus’ two wins have both come against Lynn teams, the first being over East Lynn before a sloppy loss to Pine Hill. The Nationals next play Sunday with both an opponent and time yet to be determined.