LYNN — When you put runners on base in every inning it’s much easier to place pressure on the opposing team. That was the winning formula for the Lynn Babe Ruth 14-year-old All-Stars Sunday afternoon.
And it only helped Lynn’s cause that starting pitcher Antony Mateo brought his A game by tossing five stellar innings, en route to a 13-1 5-inning mercy rule win over Newton at Breed Middle School.
“We waited probably two weeks to play a game and the kids were ready to explode,” Lynn manager Brian O’Connor said. “We knew they were going to explode. We just had to keep them calm, keep the right mindset. My assistant coaches are awesome. We have a great coaching staff. They put in a lot of work and it shows.”
Mateo allowed one earned run on five hits, struck out five and walked one.
“Antony’s amazing,” O’Connor said of his starter. “He was here yesterday working with his father all day before the game. He has this whole ritual he does, this whole workout and it shows. He’s great. He’s always been great.”
Lynn’s leadoff batter reached base in each inning, which served as a huge boost for the Lynners and put Newton on its toes to start each frame.
“We like to be aggressive,” O’Connor said. “We tell our kids to swing at the first pitch. As long as it’s a strike, we’re swinging. That’s how we play. That’s how we like to play.”
Anthony Marino (2-for-3, 2 RBI) scored the game’s first run in the top of the first when he crossed home plate on Aaron O’Connor’s (2-for-2, 2 RBI) RBI double. Nolan Mulcahy (1-for-2, RBI) roped a RBI double, scoring O’Connor, to give Lynn a 2-0 lead.
Lynn pushed across two more runs in the top of the second. Tyler Dugan (2-for-2, RBI) and Tyler Wilson (1-for-1, 2 RBI) hit back-to-back singles to start the inning. After a flyout, Ryan Fraher’s (2-for-3, 2 RBI) RBI single bumped the lead to 3-0. Marino followed with a sac-fly to give Lynn a 4-0 advantage after two innings.
Mateo (1-for-3, RBI) helped his own cause with a RBI double in the top of the third. Dugan followed with a RBI single, stretching the lead to 6-0. Wilson was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded and Daniel Reddick (0-for-3, RBI) added a RBI groundout. Lynn led 8-0 with full control after three frames.
“That’s how we like to play,” O’Connor said. “We want (our opponents) shaking in their shoes. That’s what we try to do.”
Newton scored its lone run of the afternoon in the bottom of the third on consecutive doubles.
Marino walked to lead the fourth inning. After a groundout, O’Connor brought Marino home with a RBI single. A flurry of Newton errors allowed O’Connor, who took second on a wild throw to home plate, to score.
The Lynners tallied three more runs in the fifth. Fraher and Marino roped RBI singles and an errant Newton throw granted Fraher the final run of the game.
“Every kid on this team can hit,” O’Connor said. “Lynn’s a pretty big city so there’s probably 10 other kids that could help on this team. Every single one of these kids can hit and the four players on the bench can hit. It’s a good problem to have.”
Mateo retired the side in order with a pair of strikeouts and lineout in the bottom of the fifth, capping Lynn’s 13-1 win.
Lynn’s (1-0) back on the diamond Wednesday night (8) against Arlington.
