Lynn Classical?s Herbie Newton has been the ace of the Rams staff all season, and on Thursday night at Fraser Field, he pitched like it in the opening round of the Division 2 North tournament.
Newton went the distance, striking out six and scattering five hits as the fifth-seeded Rams eliminated No. 12 Winchester, 4-0.
?Herbie really showed us what he was made of (Thursday),” Rams coach Mike Zukowski said. “He got stronger as the game went on and was able to keep them off balance.”
Classical (15-6) gave Newton all the offensive support he needed in the bottom of the first as Damien Earp singled with one out and came around on a two-out single by Andre Gaudet. The Rams added another run in the third on a Brandon Devin sacrifice fly that plated Tyler Way, and then got some cushion with two runs in the sixth on an RBI single from Devin and a two-out double by Matt Lauria.
?We needed the timely hits and we got them,” Zukowski said. “We knew coming in that we were going to get a tough game and that we had to come out and play, which we did.”
The Rams will host a North quarterfinal on Monday at 4 p.m. against No. 13 Concord-Carlisle, who upset No. 4 Wakefield, 4-2.Division 1 North
Peabody 12, Everett 0
Tanner Moquin had a huge day both at the plate and in the field for the Tanners in Peabody.
Moquin made a great catch with two runners on and two outs in the third in left field to preserve the shutout.
In the third, Moquin tripled and scored on Nick Palma?s two-run single. Ryan Collins plated one more with a sacrifice fly.
An inning later, Moquin hit a two-run single to give Peabody a six-run lead. Matt Correale followed with a two-run triple. Moquin ended a home run shy of the cycle, adding an RBI double in the fifth.
David Hoar went five innings for Peabody, allowing just two hits and striking out seven without allowing a walk.
Division 2 North
Marblehead 2, Melrose 1
The Magicians (11-10), who had to win their last three games of the regular season to even make the tournament, pulled off a stunner against the No. 6 seed in the opening round.
Garrett Keough was the man for Marblehead as he went the route, holding the hosts to two hits and striking out three. He also provided all the Magicians offense on a two-out, two-run single in the top of the third.No. 11 Marblehead will play at third-seeded Masconomet in the quarterfinals Monday.
Danvers 7, Tewksbury 0
The top-seeded Falcons had a relatively easy time with the No. 16 seed thanks to a solid effort from Andrew Olszak on the mound and some timely hitting at the dish.
Danvers did all of its damage in the middle innings, scoring four in the third and three in the fourth. Jordan DeDonato and Matt Andreas each drove in two runs for the Falcons (18-3).
Danvers will host Belmont in the Division 2 North quarterfinals Monday.
Division 3 North
Lynnfield 3, Weston 0
For the second time in as many days, the Pioneers got a standout pitching performance as Nick Colucci held the Wildcats to two hits with 10 strikeouts in leading the No. 20 seed to a stunner over the fifth seed.
Lynnfield (11-10) jumped to a 1-0 lead in the first on a sacrifice fly by Dan O?Leary that plated Colucci. The Pioneers tacked on two more runs in the fourth via a bases-loaded walk by Colucci and a single from Tom Anastasi.
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