Lynn Junior Legion team starts playoffs with victory

LYNN – Lynn?s Junior Legion baseball team opened up postseason play on Thursday evening with a dominant effort that resulted in a 12-3 victory over North Andover at Clancy Field.?This was a very promising first step in what hopefully proves to be a long and rewarding journey,” said manager Jim Hennessey, whose squad banged out 13 hits in the win. The hosts got right to work with the bats, combining for five runs in the first two innings to back starting (and winning) pitcher P.J. Hatchouel, who helped himself out with an RBI single in the first, scoring Andre Gaudet.Eric Giguere led off the following frame with an infield hit before scoring thanks to a pair of throwing errors, the former from catcher Kevin Angelo, whose pickoff attempt sailed into right.An ensuing throw from Will Berberich in right got past third baseman Kyle Coolidge, allowing Giguere to scamper home.Things would get worse for North Andover, who watched as Donnie Weisse (2 for 4, 3 RBI) doubled home Dan Hennessey before a two-run single by Brendan O?Neil (4 for 4, 2 RBI) plated Weisse and Joe Tardiff (walk).A four-run fourth stretched the lead to nine.Gaudet drew his second walk to lead off the inning, knocking Jack Landers from the game before O?Neil and Hatchouel greeted reliever Trevor Ham with consecutive singles to load the bases.Pedro Betances would be retired on strikes before pinch-hitter Kyle Morrill grounded to second baseman Matt Bosco, whose throw home proved late. Hennessey followed with an RBI free pass, his third of the game, which preceded a two-run double from Weisse that capped the frame.?Quality at-bats from top to bottom and start to finish,” reflected Hennessey of his offense?s performance. “We earned a whole bunch of walks (eight total) that didn?t come easily and got some big hits along the way.”With more than enough run support, Hatchouel was on cruise control in innings one through four, where he allowed just two singles.A three-run third from the visitors proved a minor bump in the road for the lefty, who surrendered a bases-loaded walk to Mike Scanlon and an RBI single to Bosco in the frame.In seven innings of work, Hatchouel yielded four hits and as many walks while striking out five.?We?ve come to expect this kind of effort from P.J. He?s been a rock for us all year,” lauded Hennessey. “If the rest of our staff can compete, then we?re confident in our chances going forward.”Gaudet was plunked for the second time to open the fifth before stealing second and scoring on a single from O?Neil that got past Jeremy Saraceno in center field.Lynn?s final trips featured a one-out single from Matt Desilets (2 for 3), who scored on an RBI knock from Tardiff. The latter would come across after a double from Gaudet, who was thrown out, stretching for third base.Lynn is back in action tonight against Swampscott (at Forest Ave. Fields, 5:30).