BEVERLY — With both teams fighting for their Gallant Tournament lives, the Danvers and Lynn Little League teams put on a show for the fans at Harry Ball Field in Monday’s loser’s bracket final. In the end, it was Lynn that managed to come out on top in eight innings, 3-2, to advance to the finals.
The win earned them another date with Peabody tonight at 6:30, which advanced to the final with a victory over Danvers in the earlier game.
“These kids just don’t give up, that’s the bottom line,” said Lynn manager Jeff Earp. “They were down for a lot of this game, then got ahead, then let it get tied up, and they just kept pounding. And now we’re in the finals.”
Pitching was huge for Lynn, with starter Jack Anderson spinning seven quality innings, giving up just two runs on eight hits with three strikeouts. Yordy Contreras came in to close out the game, striking out two of the three batters he faced.
“The pitching was excellent for us tonight, it was excellent on both sides really,” said Earp. “Jack got hit a little bit early but never quit, then Yordy did a great job closing it out.”
Lynn looked like it might be able to get off to a hot start, moving a runner to third in the top of the first, but Danvers starter Deryn Lanphere worked his way out of the jam unscathed. Danvers responded by getting a runner of its own to third in the bottom of the first, and they cashed in when first baseman Aris Xerras laced an RBI single into left field, taking a 1-0 lead.
The game became a pitchers’ duel from that point on for the most part. Lynn was able to load the bases in the top of the fourth, but nothing came of it. Danvers put two on with two out in the bottom of the fourth, but again, nothing came of it.
Finally, in the top of the fifth, Lynn broke through. Juniel Guzman bunted his way on then stole second base, getting into scoring position. David Brown stepped in and hit an infield single, and Guzman took advantage by running right through third base and dashing for home. The throw was late and Guzman tied the score at 1-1.
Things continued in Lynn’s favor in the top of the sixth. With one out, Eldrian Bonilla stepped up to the plate. He didn’t waste any time, taking the first pitch he saw and smashing it over the centerfield fence to give his team a 2-1 lead.
“What a big hit for him, and it couldn’t have happened to a nicer kid,” Earp said. “That really gave the whole team a shot in the arm.”
But Danvers wouldn’t go down without a fight. In the bottom of the seventh, shortstop Nick Freni led off the inning with a solo home run of his own to tie the score at 2-2 and force the game into extra innings.
In the top of the eighth, it was Bonilla again. After Shea Palmer smashed a two-out triple to get into scoring position, Bonilla knocked an infield single to bring in the run and take a 3-2 lead.
Lynn turned to Contreras to pitch the bottom of the eighth, and he responded by moving 1-2-3 through the inning to seal the win.
The path doesn’t get any easier now, as Lynn needs to beat Peabody twice in a row to take home the Gallant championship for the second year in a row.
“We were facing the same situation last year, we needed to beat Beverly twice to win it all,” said Earp. “We’re just going to go out there, take it one game at a time and see what happens, but we feel good.”
Game 1 between Peabody and Lynn will be at 6:30 p.m. tonight at Harry Ball Field.
