Wyoma knocks out Saugus National

LYNN?Wyoma pitcher Jack Hogan was stellar as Wyoma knocked Saugus National out of the District 16 Little League All-Star tournament with a 2-0 win Monday at Spagnoli Field in Lynn.
Hogan allowed just one hit, a single in the first by Kyle Surrette. He allowed four more base runners, giving up two walks and hitting a batter, and a runner reached on a dropped third strike. He went the full six innings, staying under his pitch limit even though he fanned 10 batters.
?He?s definitely one of the strongest pitchers we?ve seen,” said Saugus National coach James Martinez. “Not only was he throwing heat but his (offspeed pitches) were moving. He kept us off balance.”
On the other side, Saugus? Surrette also was strong. But Wyoma was able to capitalize on some errors and made the most of their base runners. Surrette allowed just two hits in his 4? innings of work, walking three and striking out eight.
?He was phenomenal,” said Martinez, who also credited catcher Alex Salvo with some clutch plays behind the plate.
?He was great,” Wyoma coach Rick Anderson said of Surrette. “We don?t face a lot of lefties in this league, and he threw hard.”
Wyoma scored both its runs in the bottom of the third. Jared DeFillipo reached on an error, scooted to second on a passed ball, and scored when Shawn Anderson reached on a two-out error. Christian Moran came up big with an RBI single to knock in the second run.
?We put the bat on the ball when we had to,” said Anderson.
Moran also made a crucial play in right field in the fifth, lunging at a sinking liner off the bat of Zak Rizzo and picking it before it hit the ground.
?That play really kept the game from getting out of hand,” Anderson said.
?You can tell they?re a team that plays year-round,” said Martinez of Wyoma. “They?re well-coached and well-prepared, and they are one of the better teams left. They were smart on the bases and in the field.”
Wyoma will take on Winthrop on Wednesday. After two impressive victories, the Wyoma squad rolls into the game with some momentum. But Anderson would like to see one particular area improve in order to go deep into the tournament.
?We need to get the bats on the ball a little bit more,” said Anderson. “I want to see some more offensive output.”
It?s the end of the road for the Saugus National All-Stars, but that doesn?t mean they can?t hold their heads high after a well-played contest.
?We fought all the way until the end,” said Martinez. “We represented our town well. The most important thing is that we had fun. They?re leaving this field with 12 new friends. My motto has been it?s not about winning or losing, but about the one thing you can control, which is your effort level. They left it all out on the field today. I?m proud of them.”Katie Morrison may be reached at [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter @KatieMo61.