Lynn 13s fall to Dedham in state tourney opener

LYNN – The host Lynn 13-year-old Babe Ruth baseball team overcame an early three-run deficit against Dedham before eventually succumbing to the visitors’ balanced attack. Dedham grabbed six runs in the final three frames on its way to a sound 9-4 victory in Lynn’s EMass state tournament opener on Thursday evening at Clancy Field.View Photo GalleryThe locals fell behind early on as Dedham picked up three in the first off starting pitcher Jonathan Nicosia. Kevin Rusco’s two-run triple to deep left drew an errant throw to third that allowed him to score as well for a quick 3-0 lead.After being shut down by Dedham starter Ryan Flynn through the first two innings, the Lynners cut the lead to one with a two-run second. After walking and stealing second and third, Eric Pedro scored on a ball four/passed ball to Briston Maynard that allowed him to reach second.An RBI single from Kyle Bernardini would plate Maynard shortly after. The home team would tack on another in the following inning to knot the score. After reaching on a fielder’s choice, Josh Mateo took advantage of some sloppy defense (two errors on one play) to score.Defensive woes of their own cost the locals dearly in the following inning. Nick Mecuri opened the frame with a double before moving to second on a single by Flynn. The latter moved to second on a defensive indifference, leaving two in scoring position.With Rusco at the plate, Nicosia was called for a balk that brought home Mecuri and moved Flynn to third. After getting Rusco swinging, Nicosia surrendered an RBI single to Davin Sweeney that would turn out to be the game-winner.”We came back from a deficit, then that balk happens and changes everything,” explained Lynn manager Ed Cash. “We were trying to bring the infield in and give our pitcher some time, but he stepped off the wrong way, unfortunately.”Lynn would get one more in the bottom of the fifth on an RBI groundout by Maynard that scored Pedro, but Flynn would breeze through the final two frames.”He pitched very well and got better as the game went on,” explained Cash of Flynn’s outing. “His last inning was probably his strongest of the game. He was effective with the curve all night and really kept our hitters off balance. He did a great job.”Meanwhile, the Dedham offense continued to pepper Nicosia, who wasn’t getting the proper help behind him.The visitors grabbed three in the fifth with the help of two Lynn errors. The exclamation point came on a two-out, two-run single by Sweeney that increased the lead to four runs. Dedham would add a run in the seventh (a Daniel Perno sacrifice fly) to close the scoring.”They hit the ball well all night and our defense didn’t help things out by making some mistakes,” said Cash. “I was surprised at our outfielders for letting the ball get over their heads a few times. We also had some dropped balls leading to unearned runs.”Lynn will look to put this game in the rearview mirror on Saturday when it takes on Maplewood.The game is scheduled for 2 p.m., again at Clancy Field.