Baseball Roundup: St. John’s Foley fires no-hitter against Newton North

St. John?s Prep senior Justin Foley has been nearly unhittable all season. On Wednesday in the opening round of the MIAA Division 1A tournament, Foley really was unhittable.
The Eagles? ace turned in his first no-hitter to pick up his 10thwin over the season as top-seeded St. John?s took a 1-0 win over defending 1A champion Newton North at Gibbons Field.
St. John?s (19-2) advances into the winner?s bracket semifinals either Sunday or Monday against No. 5 Wachusett, which beat No. 4 Xaverian, 5-2.
?On a day where we needed a pitching performance like that, Justin delivered,” St. John?s coach Dan LeTarte said. “To come out with that type of performance in the first game of the Super 8 against the defending champions is something special.”
Foley struck out five while the Prep defense was sparkling behind him. Newton North had only one runner reach second base.
?We made the plays that we had to. The thing was that Newton North was making them too against us, LeTarte said. “That was probably the best defensive game both ways that I?ve seen in a long time.”
Foley and Newton North starter Curtis Beatrice took turns putting up zeros early in the game. But in the bottom of the fourth, Keith Leavitt led off with a single for the Eagles.
Ted McNamara then roped a ground-rule double that scored Leavitt.
Foley, meanwhile, was lights out. He retired the first 11 batters he faced and worked around a trio of walks in the middle innings before retiring the last nine batters in a row.
?(Foley) kept throwing great pitches when he needed to,” LeTarte said. “Justin has such a great pitching IQ. He was able to keep them off balance and he shows that you don?t have to throw 90 to get guys out.”
Saugus 3, East Boston 0
Alex Pettenati allowed just two hits with 10 strikeouts for No. 21 Saugus.
?Alex did a great job,” Saugus coach Steve Freker said. “He got stronger as the game went on.”
Saugus (9-12) took the lead with a pair of two-out runs in the top of the third on a fielder?s choice by Dan Cacciola and a single by Kyle Autilio. The Sachems tacked on a final run in the seventh.
?We did everything that you?re supposed to do in a state tournament game to be successful. We got great pitching and played excellent defense.”Lynnfield 1, Latin Academy 0
Nick Pascucci gave up just one hit with nine strikeouts in Lynnfield?s Division 3 North preliminary-round win.
?Nick had an overpowering fastball at times and our guys played great defense behind him,” Lynnfield coach John O?Brien said.
The lone run of the game came in the top of the second inning as Spencer Balian led off with a single followed by a walk to Dan O?Leary walk. Pascucci?s sacrifice bunt moved the runners over, with Balian scoring on Mike Stellato?s fielders? choice.Pascucci ended the game by striking out the side in the the seventh.