FILE PHOTO
Sean Devin went 3-for-4 with 4 RBI in Connery’s win.
By MIKE ALONGI
SAUGUS — The Connery Post 6 American Legion baseball team will go into the Fourth of July weekend on a high note after taking down Saugus Post 210, 14-1, in a rain-shortened five-inning game at Stackpole Field on Friday evening.
“It was definitely good to swing the bats well going into this break, it’s great to go into it on a high note,” said Connery coach Doug Mullins. “A couple of the guys were able to take advantage of the short fence out in right, plus we pitched well and played well defensively so all-in-all it was a great win.”
The Connery boys brought their big bats to the game on Friday, as Sean Devin (3-for-4, 4 RBI) and David Barnard (1-for-2, 3 RBI) each hit three-run home runs to pace the offense. Briston Maynard (2-for-2) and Matt Stanley (1-for-3) added two RBI apiece, while AJ Luciano (2-for-3) and Tyler Donovan (1-for-3) each had one RBI.
Josh Mateo got the win on the mound for Connery, tossing all five innings and giving up just one run on three hits with seven strikeouts.
“Josh pitched well today, he threw strikes consistently and pitched to contact, which is what we want,” said Mullins. “He had the luxury of an early lead and he took advantage of it.”
The lone run for Saugus was driven in by Luigi Spinazzola, who also pitched all five innings on the mound for Post 210.
Connery jumped out to an early 4-0 lead in the first inning. After a leadoff single by Luciano, Devin stepped in and laced an RBI double to left-centerfield to get the scoring started. After Matt Lauria walked and Barnard was hit by a pitch, Tyler Donovan came up with the bases loaded and knocked an RBI single to bring in another run. The very next batter was Maynard, who smashed a two-run double to right field to bring the score to 4-0.
After Mateo moved 1-2-3 through the first and second innings, Connery came up and hung seven runs on Saugus in the top of the third inning, all with two outs. Post 6 loaded the bases with two outs for Stanley, who knocked a two-run single to start the avalanche. After a run came in on a passed ball, Luciano notched an RBI single to make it 8-0. Next up was Devin, who took advantage of the short fence in right field and knocked a three-run blast into the playground to make it 11-0.
Saugus finally got on the board in the bottom of the fourth when Spinazzola knocked a line-drive RBI single up the middle, but Saugus simply couldn’t get the bats going beyond that.
With the rain starting to fall with more frequency as the fifth inning started, Barnard put the final nail in the coffin with a three-run blast over the right field wall. Mateo came out and pitched a 1-2-3 bottom of the fifth and the game was called due to rain.
With the win, Connery (7-4) is now right on the playoff bubble with five games left. With the home stretch starting on July 5 against Danvers Post 180, Mullins and his team are taking it one game at a time.
“We’re not looking big picture, we just want to take it one game at a time,” said Mullins. “We’re right on the cusp of the tournament now, but we want to win every game leading up to it, so we’re focused on that.”
First pitch between Connery and Danvers will be at 5:30 p.m. on July 5 at Twi Field in Danvers.
