ITEM FILE PHOTO
Gavin Sullivan got the start on the mound for Swampscott in a tournament game against Austin Prep on Tuesday.
BY SCOT COOPER
MELROSE — It’s been a very interesting three days for the Austin Prep baseball team in the Division 3 North playoffs. Sunday’s game with Bishop Fenwick was rained out. The two teams played Monday night, and Fenwick’s J. P. Reiling threw a no-hitter, but the Cougars won it, 1-0.
Tuesday night’s game with Swampscott, which was supposed to be played Monday, was suspended in bottom of the fifth with Austin Prep’s Chris Gagnon at the plate with a 2-0 count.
Swampscott scored three runs in the top of the fifth for starter Gavin Sullivan, and the Blue were up 5-3 when rain and lightning moved into Melrose. The game will resume Wednesday afternoon at 4 p.m. at Malden Catholic, with Gagnon at the plate.
Unfortunately for Swampscott, Sullivan’s work is done and the Big Blue will have to send either Corey Bleau, who beat Shawsheen Saturday, lefty C. J. Howard or sophomore Luke Marshall out to finish the game.
Austin Prep used Andrew Deroche and Paul McGeehan on the mound, and they are out for the wrap up Wednesday afternoon.
Big Blue coach Jason Calichman said it’s tough that Sullivan’s all done, but he was pleased that his team bounced back and took the lead in the fifth.
“We battled back, we really grinded it out to take the lead back after giving it up,” Calichman said. “We’ll pick it up where we left off and see what happens.”
The Blue grabbed a 1-0 lead in the top of the first, with Leo Wile hitting a single with two outs, and scoring on a Matt Hubauer double.
Swampscott went up by two in the top of the third on another RBI by Hubauer. Louis Olivieri reached on an error to start the inning, and moved over to third on a fielder’s choice by Wile. Hubauer came up and drilled a single to left center, bringing in Olivieri.
Austin Prep tied it up in their half of the third. Gagnon drove home Dan Monagle with a single, and Andrew Gerety came up next, singled, scoring Peter Burns. All the hits and runs came with two outs.
Brendan Barry came home for Austin Prep in the bottom of the fourth on an infield hit by Monagle, putting the Cougars up 3-2.
The Blue rebounded and chased starter Deroche in the top of the fifth, with three hits and two walks. Howard, Bleau and Sullivan all had hits that produced three runs to put Swampscott back on top.
“We had a hot start, gave up the lead, and fought back and went ahead,” Calichman said. “Hopefully we can get it going again (Wednesday).”
