Local baseball standouts participate in Lynn Invitational

LYNN – With many of the seats behind home plate at Fraser Field packed with major league scouts and coaches from Division 1, 2 and 3 colleges, it was hard for the participants in the Lynn Invitational All-Star Game to not realize they were under the microscope.Players like Ben Bowden, of this year?s national champion Vanderbilt, and Kyle Devin have come through the tournament in the last few years.For a handful of the area?s top underclassmen, there was a lot of fun to be had on Monday night, but also, the knowledge that a lot of top coaches were on hand wasn?t far away.?You kind of have to put it off to the side when you get out there,” said Lynn English?s Brett Molea, who had a two-run single during a four-run sixth that helped lead his Red/Navy/Carolina team to a 6-2 win. “You just have to go out there and play hard.”For a pair of Swampscott?s top talents, Ryan January and Chris Murphy, it was a chance to be back on the field together for one of the first times since leading their Little League team to a District 16 title.For January, who was fresh off playing with some of the top talent in the country at the Area Code Games in California and who is a likely D-1 prospect, the chance to come home and play was fun.?It?s my fourth year here in this tournament and it?s great,” January said. “I don?t get the chance to play with a lot of kids that I know (at the Salisbury School) so it?s good to come home and play against some of my friends.”Ironically, Murphy, who was on the roster at St. John?s Prep this past season as the Eagles reached the Super 8, had to go up against his friend and former teammate on a couple of occasions during the tournament.?I knew that I was probably going to have to face R.J. a couple of times, but it was fun,” Murphy said. “I kind of know where he likes the ball, so I tried to stay out of those spots.”For Lynn Classical?s Andre Gaudet, the tournament was a chance to go against competition that can only be of help when he returns to play for coach Mike Zukowski?s team next spring.That being said, it was a dream come true for Gaudet to be on the field against some of the best players in the state and country.?It?s an honor,” Gaudet said. “To be on the field with kids from places like Florida and California is great. You absolutely have to play your best. And it was nice to be able to play here at home on this field.”On Monday, January reached base twice while also showing off his prowess behind the plate as he cut down a runner trying to steal a base in the top of the seventh. Murphy, meanwhile, took the mound in the bottom of the sixth and retired the side in order.Molea was 1-for-3 in the contest while Peabody?s Christian Morales also had a 1-for-3 day at the dish. His teammate, Mike Petrosino, was 0-2.Marblehead?s Garrett Keough was 0-2 with a walk and Bishop Fenwick?s Mike Campatelli also was a part of the game.