NSBL Playoffs: North Shore Phillies, Peabody Champions reach next round

The North Shore Phillies defeated the Newburyport Nationals 3-1 on Tuesday at Groveland Pines to take their North Shore Baseball League playoff series, two games to none.Dan Duval started for the Phillies and pitched a complete game, allowing one earned run on a passed ball.The Phillies trailed 1-0 in the bottom of the third. They scored all three of their runs in the top of the fifth. Shortsthop Ryan Beliveau of Lynn, who played for Salem State, led off with a single. Kurtis White hit into a fielder?s choice and took second on a single by Mike LaMothe, a starting catcher at Salem State. After Duval flied out, player-manager Chris Carroll was hit by a pitch on a 3-1 count.With the bases loaded, Chris Blydell hit a two-run single. Matt Sucharewicz walked to re-load the bases and Rick Vail was hit by a pitch to force in Carroll.Peabody Champions 10, Bistany 6At Lawrence, Champions won their playoff series two games to none to advance to the semifinals Thursday at Twi Field, Danvers, against the winner of the Beverly-Swampscott Sox series.Greg Ladd allowed just two earned runs on Monday in a complete-game effort, striking out four. He struck out the last two batters with runners on second and third.Offensive standouts included Dave Ruggiero (2 H, 2-run double), Mark Shorey (2 H, 1 R), Derek Lyons (2 H, 1 R), Zach Keenan (2 H, 2 RBI) and Mike Giardi (a big pinch hit, and two runs).