Phillies cruise, up 2-1 in NSBL finals

LYNN – After two tight-knit contests left the North Shore Baseball League championship series deadlocked at one win apiece, the North Shore Phillies came out swinging in a lopsided Game Three victory over the visiting Kingston Night Owls.With the help of two four-run innings as well as a solid start from Kyle Shepard, the Phillies cruised to a 9-3 victory at Breed Field on Thursday evening. The teams will have an off day on Friday to recharge their batteries.After Shepard breezed through his first inning, the North Shore offense got right to work. Matt Sucharewicz roped a one-out double to dead center, scoring Kurtis White and Chris Blydell, who reached via a walk and fielder?s choice, respectively.Rick Vail followed with a sinking line drive to center that Dan Lagasse couldn?t corral on a dive, allowing Sucharewicz to score. Chris Carroll?s ensuing RBI single plated Vail.With a four-run cushion, Shepard stranded the bases loaded in the second, inducing a two-out broken-bat ground ball by Lagasse. Shepard narrowly avoided the splintered lumber, allowing second baseman Jairo Valdez to make the inning-ending play.Kingston would get on the scoreboard in the third. After reaching on a walk to lead off the frame, Tito Lluberes stole second before advancing to third on a passed ball. Mike DelPonte plated Lluberes with a two-out infield single to shortstop.The Phillies got the run right back in their half of the fourth. Valdez led off with a single to right before swiping second. After advancing to third on an error at shortstop, Valdez scored on Sucharewicz?s sacrifice fly, just beating left fielder Joe Morin?s strong throw.After the Night Owls got a two-run homer from Mike Ferriero in the top of the fifth, the hosts responded with their second four-run outburst.After a leadoff walk to Dan Duval, Ryan Beliveau?s sacrifice bunt attempt worked out better than expected as the throw to second deflected off Duval, allowing both runners to reach safely. A walk to Valdez loaded the bases with nobody out.White followed with another free pass, scoring Duval before Blydell struck out swinging. Sucharewicz picked up his fourth RBI of the game with a single, leading to a two-run single by Vail to close out the North Shore scoring.Shepard was removed prior to the seventh for Mario Padovani, who, despite a non-save situation, nailed down the final inning quickly and cleanly. Shepard allowed six hits in his six innings while striking out eight and only walking two.A pivotal Game Four will be played on Saturday morning at 11 in Haverhill. A victory would give North Shore a 3-1 series lead while a loss would leave the series tied.