Lynn tops Peabody, sets up Gallant showdown

SALEM – As defending champion of the Ray Gallant Memorial Tournament, Lynn wasn?t about to relinquish its title … not without a final say-so.After a mercy rule defeat at the hands of Peabody on Sunday, the locals bounced back with a 5-1 victory over the same squad on Monday evening, setting up tonight?s winner-take-all showdown at Stephen O?Grady Little League Field (6:30).After surrendering a run on two hits in the first inning, visiting starter Colin Reddy found his groove. The young right-hander allowed just two singles the rest of the way while fanning 12 to force a final game.?He actually called me last night and said he was ready to pitch on just two days? rest,” reflected Lynn coach Leon Elwell of Reddy. “To give up a single run to that team is impressive. Colin was the story of the game tonight.”Peabody?s Angelo McCullough and Joey Gilmartin opened the game with consecutive singles before J.C. Espinal?s bleeder down the right field line dropped in, scoring the former. Gilmartin was forced out at second, nullifying a base hit.From that point on Reddy was virtually untouchable, retiring the next six batters while striking out the side in frames three and four, the latter of which featured a leadoff single from Gilmartin, who started for the designated hosts.?Reddy really quieted our bats tonight and helped Lynn put their best foot forward in a must-win game,” lauded Peabody coach Brian Herbert. “Our energy was sub-par tonight so hopefully we come ready to play tomorrow.”Wednesday?s finale will see a strong pitching matchup pitting Lynn?s Bobby Alcock against Peabody ace Sean Letarte. Yesterday, a two-run third followed by a three spot in the following inning provided Reddy with more than enough insurance.Connor Donohue would single-handedly manufacture the icebreaker, leading off the third with a single up the gut. A wild pitch and two passed balls allowed the No. 8 man to score shortly thereafter.With two outs, Reddy reached on a base hit to left before Andy Duverge launched a go-ahead RBI double, high off the fence in right.An inning later, Alcock?s leadoff double gave way to singles from Matt Devin and Aubrey Conners that sandwiched Gilmartin striking out Julien Silvestre on three pitches. Donohue followed with a lineout to right, which Alcock neglected to tag on. Brendan Lannon quickly made the baserunning mistake a distant memory with a double to the gap in left-center, scoring two.Conners would cap the scoring, helped along by a wild pitch.?I thought that was the biggest hit of the game,” said Elwell of Lannon?s two-out heroics. “Brendan came up with a big two-out knock, which provided us with some much-needed breathing room.”