LOWELL — Despite a late rally, the Beverly baseball team fell short of the Eastern Mass. Division 2 Championship, losing to North Attleborough, 4-3, Thursday night at LeLacheur Park.
“They were a hit or two better than us today,” Beverly coach Dave Wilbur said. “We battled like I knew we would we just needed a couple more hits but this was a great baseball game between two really good baseball teams that played with a lot of class.”
“There was nothing wrong with the way we played, they’re high school kids. Nothing is going to be perfect,” Wilbur added. “Nothing to be ashamed of. We won two championships, we won the NEC and Division 2 North and we were right there, today could’ve gone either way.”
Spencer Brown went 1-for-3 with a triple and three RBI. Brown drove in the only runs for Beverly. Brown also pitched seven innings for Beverly, allowing four earned runs and one walk while recording 10 strikeouts.
Nick Sinacola pitched for North Attleborough, allowing three earned runs and two walks while recording nine strikeouts.
“He’s a very good pitcher, but Spencer was right there with him, from the fourth inning on [Brown] was unhittable,” Wilbur said. “But I give Sinacola credit, he pitched a great game.”
Zach DeMattio led the way for North Attleborough, going 2-for-2 with four RBI.
Sinacola started things off for the Rocketeers with a single and a stolen base to get into scoring position. DeMattio then drove in Sinacola with an RBI single to give North Attleborough a 1-0 lead in the first.
Beverly ran into trouble in the second after a single from North Attleborough’s Jeff Gale followed by a stolen base and passed ball put a runner at third with no outs. However, Brown retired the next three batters to get the Panthers out of the jam.
North Attleborough got runners on again in the third. After Brendan McHugh was hit by a pitch and Sinacola reached on an infield single, the Rocketeers had runners at the corners with no outs. DeMattio then recorded his second and third RBI with a double to left center field to put North Attleborough ahead 3-0.
Matt Collins recorded Beverly’s first hit in the third with a two-out triple to right center field, but the Panthers were unable to capitalize.
In the fifth, DeMattio recorded his fourth RBI, sending home McHugh, who had reached third after a single, stolen base and tag up at second, with a sacrifice fly ball.
The Panthers fought back into the game in the fifth. A double by Ryan Munzing, an error at shortstop and a walk drawn by Collins loaded the bases for Brown who sent a triple off the wall in left field to cut the score to 4-3. Sinacola then sat down the next batter to get North Attleborough out the inning while holding the lead.
That was all the rally Beverly had left as the Rocketeers held on for the 4-3 win.
“I’m so proud of Beverly baseball,” Wilbur said. “This group of seniors like I said have been very special they’re really good players but they’re better people.
Wilbur added, “I love every one of them, the whole team, I’m not separating juniors and seniors. It’s been a great year but the senior class was certainly a special group of kids and they led this team to 20 wins.”
Beverly ends the season at 20-5.
