LYNN — It was a game of rallies for the Pine Hill Little League team Thursday evening; the all-stars battled back two different times to earn an 8-6 win over Saugus in an elimination game of the District 16 tournament at the Wyoma Little League field.
Elijah Morin led the offensive attack for Pine Hill, going 2-for-4 with two doubles and two RBI. Cyrus Rock went 1-for-3 with an RBI, while Riley Driscoll (1-for-2, three runs scored), Jackson Bennett (1-for-2, two runs scored) and Mason Palladino (1-for-4, double) each added a hit.
Palladino also earned the win on the mound in relief, tossing 1 2/3 scoreless innings. Trent Cahill got the start on the mound and went 4 1/3 innings.
For Saugus, Trey Riley went 1-for-2 with a double and two RBI. Jacob Boyce went 2-for-4 with an RBI, while Rylan Bierenbroodspot (3-for-3), Michael Fonduto (2-for-3), Devin Lugo (2-for-4) and Nico Sapienza (1-for-4) all had hits.
Saugus jumped out to an early lead in this one, with the first three batters of the lineup reaching base and scoring to go ahead 2-0.
But Pine Hill answered right back in the top of the second, as Palladino led off the inning with a double and then moved to third on a passed ball. After a pair of strikeouts threatened to end the rally, Rock came through with an RBI infield single to make it a 3-1 game.
Pine Hill continued to make plays in the third inning, taking advantage of four Saugus errors to take the lead. With runners on first and second and one out, Morin hit a towering fly ball to right field that bounced off of a Saugus player’s glove and allowed three runs to come home and make it a 4-3 Pine Hill lead.
Two more runs came in the top of the fourth inning for Pine Hill after a single and a walk put two runners on with two outs. Next up was Morin, who laced a two-run double up the right-field line to push the lead to 6-3.
But Saugus wasn’t done. After a walk and a single to start off the bottom of the fifth, Riley stepped in and laced a two-run double to make it a 6-5 game and put the tying run in scoring position. Two batters later, Riley took home on a dropped third strike and the score was tied up at 6-6.
Pine Hill didn’t get too down on itself, though, and came back fighting in the top of the sixth. After two quicks outs, a dropped third strike by Saugus kept the inning alive. Next up was Driscoll, who dropped down a bunt single and then advanced all the way around to score after two Saugus throwing errors brought home two runs and made it 8-6. Next up was Morin, who laced a double to the center-field wall and then came around to score on yet another Saugus throwing error.
That was all Palladino needed, as he moved through the middle of the order without incident in the bottom of the sixth to seal the win.
Pine Hill now moves on to face West Lynn Friday evening (5:45) at the Pine Hill Little League Field.
