Salem blasts its way to first District 16 Little League title

LYNN – In an absolute slugfest on both sides, Salem Little League beat Saugus American, 18-8, in 3 ? at Reinfuss Field to clinch the District 16 Little League title. It is the first district title in Salem Little League history.
?It means a lot,” said Salem coach Jeff LaJoie after getting a Gatorade shower. “The kids know the history and all the parents know, so it?s great to make it happen. It?s a great feeling.”
It was Saugus American which struck first, in the top of the second. After two quick outs, third baseman Joey Dusablon stepped up and hit a line-drive home run over the right field wall to give Saugus American a 1-0 lead.
But it didn?t last long, as Salem left fielder Ryan LeClare took the first pitch of the bottom of the second and hit a blast to dead center field to tie the game. Salem wasn?t done. After loading the bases, second baseman Bobby Jellison knocked a two-run double to give Salem the lead. The next batter was Lee Pacheco, who hit an RBI single to put Salem up, 4-1.
But in the top of the third, after the leadoff hitter reached for Saugus American, catcher Jack Devereaux smashed a two-run homer to cut the deficit to one. Saugus grabbed the tying run on a passed ball, then loaded the bases again. Pinch hitter Donovan Clark knocked an RBI single to give Saugus American a 5-4 lead.
But again, it didn?t last long. Salem quickly loaded the bases in the bottom of the third, then brought in pinch-hitter Jordan Maurice. He hit a two-run single to take the lead right back, then scored on an RBI double from shortstop Tommy Beauregard two batters later. Salem then loaded the bases again, and LeClare continued his big night with a two-run single. After Pacheco stole home, Salem held an 11-5 lead.
But Saugus American wouldn?t go quietly. After a leadoff single, Devereaux hit another two-run blast, this time over the left field fence. Two batters later, Doug Clark hit a solo homer to center and all of a sudden it was a game again at 11-8.
Then Salem broke the game open. After a leadoff walk and a single, Jellison hit an RBI single to score a run. Another run scored on a throwing error, and it was 13-8. Next up was Pacheco, and he hit an absolute bomb over everything — including the adjacent buildings — in left field.
?I have never seen a ball go over that building,” LaJoie said. “I?ve never seen a ball go that far. And it was a great time to get it done.”
Next up was catcher Jack Gilligan. He crushed a solo homer. After another single from LeClare, right fielder William Foglietta smacked a two-run home run to end the game after three and a half innings.
Next up for Salem is the state sectionals, which begin on Tuesday.
?Tuesday is a whole new tournament, and we?re going to do our best,” LaJoie said. “I?ve seen a few innings of some of the teams we might play, and I know we?re going to be in for a tough test.”
Mike Alongi can be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter at @m_alongi.