SAUGUS — The North Shore Storm survived a late-inning rally to hang on for a 6-5 win over the Saugus Wings in a North Shore Baseball League game Friday night at World Series Park.
The Storm were led at the plate by Luke Glancy (1-for-3 with 5 RBI) who hit a grand slam in the second inning. Brandon Lopez (2-for-3 with a walk) also scored twice for the Storm.
Ben Osterholtz got the win for the Storm, throwing six innings and allowing four runs on six hits while striking out five and hitting one batter. Will Krasovec got the save, pitching the seventh and striking out two while walking one batter.
For the Wings, Dawson Gaudet (1-for-3) drove in two runs while David Harris (2-for-3) drove in one run. Nick Day (0-for-3 with a HBP) scored twice for the Wings.
“It was tough getting down early but I’m happy with the way we battled back,” Wings manager Mark Mitchell said. “We have to basically win our last two games now to get in the playoffs so this one would have been nice to get.”
Back-to-back walks by Lopez and Nick DiBenedetto and a passed ball put runners at second and third for the Storm to start the first. A sacrifice fly by Glancy and an infield error later in the inning scored both runs to put the Storm up 2-0.
The Storm added to their lead in the second inning. An infield error, walk by Corey DiBenedetto and single by Lopez loaded the bases. Later in the inning, Glancy hit a grand slam with two outs to put the Storm up 6-0.
In the fourth inning the Wings bats finally came alive. Day reached on an error at third base and after advanced to third after another error before being brought home on a RBI double by Harris. After Harris advanced to third on a passed ball, Gaudet drove him in on a ground out to cut the lead to 6-2.
In the fifth Saugus had runners at second and third with one out. The next batter, Pedro Del Toro, hit a fly ball to center that looked like it might bring home a run. However the centerfielder, Glancy, threw out the tagging runner at the plate to end the inning.
The Wings were able to add more runs in the sixth. Gaudet drove in Day on a RBI single and Osterholtz balked in a run to cut the lead to 6-4. Gaudet later moved from second to third and scored on passed balls to make it a one run game at 6-5.
Saugus couldn’t complete the comeback in the seventh and now must win their last two games of the season this weekend in order to make the playoffs.
“Now we basically have no alternative,” Mitchell said. “The next two nights we have to beat Peabody and Kingston, both tough teams.
“I’m happy the way we battled back when we were down 6-0,” Mitchell added. “Our energy came back, so hopefully we take that forward this weekend and I think if we do we should be okay.”
