Beverly reaches North final thanks to extra inning win

BEVERLY – After Masconomet tied the game in the bottom of the seventh, Nick Cotraro?s ground-rule double and Dave Drinkwater?s two-run single in the eighth sent the Beverly Panthers to the Division 2 North finals with a 10-7 victory Thursday at Endicott College.
After upsetting defending Division 2 state champions Masco (19-4), the Panthers (14-9) move on to face top-seeded Danvers (20-3) for the North title Saturday at 4 p.m. at LeLacheur Park in Lowell.
?I?m just so proud of these kids,” said Beverly coach Dave Wilbur. “For us to come in here and beat these guys ? hats off to our kids for battling and never quitting. There were so many times when it looked like things might be going their way, and we refused to quit.”
It took a combined effort on the mound for the Panthers. Beverly?s starter, Rocky Pisa, went four-plus innings, allowing three runs on six hits. He was relieved by Drinkwater, who went two innings and gave up three runs. Morrissey shut things down with two full frames to get the victory.
?We talked about trying to win each pitch, and if something went wrong on the last pitch, win the next pitch,” Wilbur said. “We tried to keep it simple, and we really felt no pressure today. They?re expected to win, they?re the defending state champions. We?re not. Let?s just stay with them and see if we can steal it at the end. We earned this game. It wasn?t given to us.”
The Panthers had five baserunners through the first four innings, but couldn?t get anyone into scoring position. Catcher Luke Samperi got them on the board in the fifth with a home run. Samperi battled against Masco starter Ethan Dyer, seeing eight pitches before sending one over the fence in center field. That started a rally for Beverly, as Sean Hanlon was hit by a pitch and Anthony Morrissey drew a walk, setting Ted Leathersich up for a two-run single to put the Panthers ahead, 3-2.
Masco got two in the bottom half of the frame to reclaim the lead. But the Panthers responded again.
Drinkwater led off the sixth with a walk and scored on Frank DiOrio?s double. Pinch hitter Ricky Johnson came through with a big RBI double, and another hit from Samperi put the Panthers on top, 6-4.
?The thing I like was as the game went on, is (when) they (scored) and we answered right back,” Wilbur said. “And every time we answered, they threw another punch.”
Masco pulled within one in the sixth, but the Panthers added an insurance run in the seventh to take a 7-5 lead.
The Chieftains came storming back in the bottom of the seventh and a pinch-hit double knotted things at 7. With the bases loaded and two outs, Morrissey forced Cape Ann League MVP Elias Varinos to pop up and sent the game into extras.
I said to (Morrissey), if it gets 7-7 here, get us back in it, don?t feel sorry for yourself, don?t let them rip one and we lose,” said Wilbur.
With another life in the eighth, the Panthers rallied again to go up by 3, 10-7.
Two runners reached for Masco in the bottom of the frame, but a chopper to second base ended things and sent the Panthers to the finals.
?You can?t ask for a better high school baseball game than that,” said Wilbur. “I have so much respect for Masco. They?re a fantastic team. Neither team crumbled. It was really like a heavyweight fight. Kids stepped up and made plays on each team.”
The Panthers will have a couple of days to prepare for Northeastern Conference rival Danvers, a team that Wilbur knows very well.
?(Danvers coach) Roger (Day) is one of my best friends, and there?s not a coach or team I respect more than them,” Wilbur said. “We?re going to enjoy this one today, we?ll be ready for Saturday, and we?re excited to have the chance.
?I?m just lost for words, I?m very proud of our guys and we get to play another day.”
Katie Morrison may be reached at [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter @KatieMo61.