PHOTO BY BOB ROCHE
Mike Stellato delivered the final blow against Austin Prep, knocking in the go-ahead run.
BY MIKE ALONGI
BEVERLY — It’s all about resilience for the Lynnfield baseball team. That was the case on Thursday night when the No. 3 Pioneers battled back from four runs down in the seventh inning to beat No. 2 Austin Prep, 8-7, in the Division 3 North semifinals at Endicott College.
“Sometimes, it takes some luck, said Lynnfield coach John O’Brien. “That (Austin Prep) is one hell of a baseball team, and they gave us a true battle. But we kept coming, we never quit and we got the huge hits when we needed them tonight.”
Let’s just fast-forward to the final inning.
Lynnfield was down 7-3 entering the top of the seventh. After a single and two walks loaded up the bases for the Pioneers, Spencer Balian raced home to score on a passed ball. Bryant Dana scored one batter later on another passed ball, and all of a sudden it was 7-5. After a strikeout, Justin Juliano stepped in with runners on second and third with two outs. Juliano didn’t disappoint, coming through with a huge two-run single to left field to tie the score at 7-7. Next up was Mike Stellato, who continued his solid season with an RBI single right back up the middle to give Lynnfield the go-ahead run.
“What a huge inning for us, we had everything go our way,” said O’Brien. “We got baserunners, we ran the bases well, and then Justin had the huge knock and Mike followed it up with the go-ahead hit. Just amazing.”
Austin Prep had one more chance in the bottom of the seventh, and the Cougars certainly made Lynnfield sweat. Brendan Barry led off with a single, then Pat Burke moved him into scoring position with a sacrifice bunt. Next up was Jonathan Gilbride, who hit a fly ball to centerfield that was misplayed for an error to put runners on first and third with only one out. With the top of the order coming up, pitcher Nick Colucci had to dig down deep to get his team out of a jam. He did just that, striking out the next two batters in a row to send his team off to the Division 3 North final.
“It was a great program win for us,” O’Brien said. “And it was also a little bit of redemption after they knocked us out last year.”
The Pioneers (19-4) will go up against Cape Ann League rival and No. 1 seed in the tournament North Reading (20-3) in the Division 3 North Final at a time and place to be announced. The two teams are familiar foes, having split the two games they’ve played this season.
“They’re another great team, we know we’ll have our hands full,” said O’Brien. “I’m anticipating another great game between two CAL arch-rivals, and it’s going to be heated. And we’ll be ready.”
