Lynn 14s show their resilience

DANVERS – For the second consecutive game, the Lynn Babe Ruth 14-year-old all-stars faced a late deficit, only to rally back for an inspiring victory.On Tuesday evening at Twi Field, the Lynners tied the game at 1-1 in the bottom of the fifth before a two-run sixth proved the difference in a 3-2 win over Danvers. “This was a very well-played game, with both teams getting great pitching and defense,” explained coach Pete Dawson, whose team improved to 2-0. “We got some timely hitting for the second consecutive game and it was enough to win.”After making a tremendous over-the-shoulder catch on a deep drive to center in the top of the sixth, Dax Billingsley led off the Lynn half with a single. Ryan Turenne followed with a slicing hit down the left field line before advancing to second.No. 3 hitter (and starting pitcher) John Nicosia helped himself out with an ensuing RBI single to left-center. Briston Maynard would loft a sacrifice to center on the very next pitch for a 3-1 lead.?This game might have gone in a different direction if not for the play Dax made,” reflected Dawson of Billingsley?s robbery of Tim Usalis. “We?re talking SportsCenter Top 10 on that one.”Danvers would get to within a run in its final trips after Joe Masterson laced a single to center, scoring Dom Colella, who had led off with a base hit. Nicosia responded by inducing Nick Raimo into a game-ending double play.A momentum-swinging fourth began with another Lynn defensive gem.Max D?Amora led off the frame with a bloop towards shallow right, which was nabbed by second baseman Josh Mateo on a sliding effort. Nicosia followed by freezing Joe Nicolo on a curveball, which to that point had failed him.The inning ended with Nicosia inducing Nico Rossitto into a groundout to Mateo.?He was leaving his breaking ball way up early on,” explained Dawson of his right-hander, who allowed five hits. “Josh made a great play to open the inning and it seemed to give not just John, but the whole team, some momentum.”Billingsley reached on an error to begin the bottom of the fourth before Turenne bent a double just inside the left field line. The former came across when Nicosia?s ground ball drew a late throw to the plate.A strange happening prevented the hosts from increasing their lead in the ensuing at-bat when a Maynard line drive deflected off Nicosia, who was ruled out. Turenne was returned to third on the rare single.?We literally ran into a bit of bad luck, but that?s baseball,” laughed Dawson. “That would have given us some much-needed breathing room.”Visiting starter Zach Dillon needed just 21 pitches through his first three innings, which featured seven consecutive groundouts before a Tom Cash single.Dillon provided his team with a 1-0 lead in its first trips to the plate, roping a double to deep center, scoring Raimo, who had received a one-out walk.