Late-inning explosion lifts Peabody Babe Ruth over Marblehead

MARBLEHEAD — A six-run sixth inning powered the Peabody 13-year-old Babe Ruth team over Marblehead, 9-2, Friday night in the District 1 All-Star Tournament at Marblehead High.
Peabody will now face Lynn on Sunday at 4 p.m. in the district championship game at Seaside Park in Marblehead. In their last meeting, Lynn beat Peabody, 4-2.
?We?re excited to get another crack at them,” said Peabody coach Chip Guiney.
Against Marblehead, Peabody also got a complete game from pitcher Angelo McCullagh, who gave up two runs on two hits while striking out two.
?He pitched a good game throughout,” said Guiney. “He had good control and only a couple of walks.”
On the offensive side for Peabody, third baseman Calvin Ingemi and second baseman Mike Silva each recorded two RBIs.
Peabody struck early in the top of the first. After two walks and a single loaded the bases, Ingemi knocked a two-run single to centerfield for a 2-0 lead.
Marblehead came back with a run in the bottom of the first. After Ryan Harris led off with a single and advanced to third on a fielder?s choice, center fielder Sebastian Fisichelli hit a deep sacrifice fly to cut the deficit to 2-1.
Marblehead tied it up in the bottom of the third on an RBI single from catcher Ben Brennan. But after a quick out to start the top of the fourth, Ingemi smashed a double over the left fielder?s head to get into scoring position. He advanced to third on a passed ball, then scored on Silva?s RBI groundout to give Peabody a 3-2 lead.
It remained that way until the top of the sixth. JC Espinal started the big rally with a single, then advanced to third on a stolen base and a throwing error. Catcher Taidon Perez was up next, and he ripped an RBI single to bring Espinal home. Joe Castrinichi followed with another single, and Ingemi reached on an error to load the bases. Silva stepped up and took a walk to force in a run. Dylan Walsh hit an RBI single before three more walks plated runs, giving Peabody a 9-2 lead.
McCullagh allowed only one runner to reached base in the final two innings. After a 1-2-3 bottom of the seventh, Peabody celebrated another win.
?The game went as well as we could have hoped for,” Guiney said. “We didn?t get many hits early, but when we got to their second-tier pitchers we were able to get that big six-run inning and put the game out for reach.”
Mike Alongi can be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter at @m_alongi.