Unbeaten West Peabody Solves Wyoma in District 16 Semis

LYNN – Peabody West Little League all-star team handed Wyoma its first loss of the District 16 tournament Friday evening at East Lynn’s Volunteer, with a 10-2 win.View photo galleryA very potent Peabody offense put up three big innings while their starting pitcher Nick Iannuzzi lasted 5 1/3 en route to the win.Wyoma got a quick run in the first when leadoff hitter Spencer Diuirgilio reached on a misplay at third before coming into score on a one-out, wall-ball double from Christian Burt.The underlying importance of the inning was not the rough start, but that Iannuzzi would strand the bases loaded, escaping any potential damage.”He’s been a great pitcher for us in the first two games and he showed it in this game also,” said Peabody West manager Frank Benea.”We practice that scenario every day. Infield in, bases loaded, no outs? Nick knew he had to bear down there and he did,” Benea continued. “If they come up with more runs that inning this is a different ballgame.”Peabody responded in a big way when Josh Cerratani led off with a single before advancing to third after Chris Kurmuntis ripped a double to right-center. An aggressive Cerratani would draw a throw to his base, allowing him to steal home successfully while Kurmuntis alertly reached third.Jonathan Polignone scored Kurmuntis on a groundout to Burt at shortstop, the first out of the inning, leading to a double from Iannuzzi. The Peabody ace, who can hit as well (2-3), would steal third and score on a passed ball before the inning was over.”We knew we had to be aggressive with the bats and we came out that way and grabbed three runs. We haven’t been down in a game so coming back like we did really set the tone,” said Benea of the big first.”The bottom of the third was the dagger in the heart for Wyoma as Peabody picked up four more runs, and a very comfortable six-run cushion. It started with Iannuzzi who singled and scored on a base hit from pinch-hitter Will Preshong.After John Mulready and Dan Marshall reached via single and a passed-ball third strike respectively, Ed Campbell delivered a pinch hit RBI single from the No.9 spot. The nail in the coffin came next as Cerratani roped a two-run double to center, ending Wyoma starter David Barnard’s outing.The visitors got one back in the fourth on a two-out RBI single from Barnard that scored Diuirgilio who was hit by a pitch just before. That would be all the scoring Wyoma could muster as Iannuzzi reached the final inning before being removed with one out only because he had reached the mandatory 85 pinch-count rule.The Peabody righty had a final line of seven strikeouts, one walk and one earned run on five hits. Iannuzzi has been a workhorse for his squad, starting every game and pitching very effectively in each, a factor his truly values.Peabody would tack on three more in their final at-bats. No. 9 hitter Christian Cummings launched a three-run homer to right center scoring Caroline Kukas, who reached on a beautiful bunt single and Marshall as well.Peabody continues on in the winner’s bracket and will play Sunday (4) against Lynnfield at a site to be determined. Wyoma drops into the losers’ bracket and will play the winner of today’s Saugus National/Lynn Shore game.Sunday (1), also at a site to be determined.Lynnfield 4, Pine Hill 2At Swampscott, the Hillies stranded 10 runners in a loss that drops them into the losers’ bracket. They will face the winner of today’s Salem/Peabody Blue game.”It was a good game,” said Pine Hill manager Pete Dow. “But when you leave that many runners on, you’re not going to win many games.”Michael Leavett and Colin Reddy pitched, and Leavett had two doubles as well. Also playing well for Pine Hill were Aiden Calnan, Aiden Seitz and Timmy Nerich.