By MIKE ALONGI
SAUGUS — In a game that was completely dominated by pitching on both sides, the Peabody 15-year old Babe Ruth baseball team defeated Saugus, 1-0, in 11 innings in the District 1 Babe Ruth tournament at World Series Park on Friday.
“It was just an unbelievable performance by both teams,” said Peabody coach Randy Valliere. “It was a clean game all the way around, both pitchers kept their teams in the game the whole way, and it was just a battle. It’s a shame anyone had to lose this game.”
The winning play came in the bottom of the 11th for Peabody. Third baseman Mark DeLuca was hit by a pitch and centerfielder Chris Ruggiero singled to start the inning. After a strikeout, extra hitter Mike Pike smacked a single to left field that loaded the bases with one out. Next up was first baseman Mike Tansey, who slapped a grounder to second base. The throw came home to get the force and save the run but it was a bit off line, which allowed DeLuca to slide safely into home for the game-winning run.
“It really is tough to lose a game on a couple plays that can go either way like that,” said Valliere. “So we’re obviously happy to be on the right side of that. But credit to Saugus, they battled the whole way.”
The pitching was dominant on both sides all game long. Peabody’s Mike Johns earned the win on the mound in relief, pitching five innings and giving up no runs on four hits with four strikeouts. He came in to relieve starter Joe Zito, who put up a solid line himself, giving up no runs on two hits with seven strikeouts in five innings of work.
For Saugus, Dom Clark got the start and went six-plus innings, giving up no runs on three hits with five strikeouts. Todd Tringale followed Clark and went the next four innings, giving up just two hits with five strikeouts. Christian Correia was the third pitcher for Saugus.
Both teams had several chances to put runs on the board throughout the game. Peabody got a runner in scoring position with less than two outs three times, but failed to capitalize on any of them. Saugus left runners in scoring position five times, including leaving the bases loaded in the top of the second.
“These kids all stepped up,” said Valliere. “We might not have a stud pitcher or a stud bat, but we have a bunch of baseball players on this team. Everyone is able to move around and do multiple things, and that’s the key to our success.”
Peabody now moves on face Swampscott-Nahant on Sunday at a time to be announced, while Saugus will play Marblehead on Sunday at 10 a.m.
Lynn 13s win District 1 tournament
PEABODY — It took 11 innings and almost a week to complete, but the District 1 Babe Ruth 13s have a winner, and it’s Peabody.
The game between Lynn and Peabody began last Tuesday at Donahue Field in Peabody, and after seven innings the score was 3-3, and the proceedings were halted. There was much uncertainty over how things would proceed after that, and there was hope it wouldn’t have to be continue.
However it was, and it resumed Friday evening in the top of the eighth. Four innings later, “four very good innings,” according to Lynn manager Dave Galeazzi, Peabody finally pushed across the winning run.
Both teams will now advance to the state championships that will be held in Danvers beginning next week. Peabody qualifies because it won the district tournament and Lynn will be going as an at-large team for having placed second in the Extreme League.
