PEABODY— Patrick Prideaux knew how to make an entrance — by hitting a home run over the left field fence at Lt. Ross Field in his first at bat of the game.
Then, in the top of the third, he led off again. And once again, he parked one. Both homers went a long way toward Peabody Little League’s 5-4 win over Swampscott in the District 16 Little League tournament. It was Swampscott’s first game of the tournament.
“Two home runs at the beginning of the game. You don’t see that too often where you get two good at bats and put them over the fence,” said Peabody manager Rick DeLoreto. “That’s all you could ask for. Then he comes out and pitches like that, not much else.”
Both teams fought hard. Prideaux hit his first of two home runs in the top of the first. With Swampscott’s Miles Brown answering his call with a single only to steal second and make his way home on Beau Olivieri’s single. Peabody’s Cam Iorio was ready in the top of the second with a double with the help of Mason Ritchie, who made it home as well to add another run to their score.
“Obviously their No. 41 Prideaux was dealing well and took us long twice. But other than that it was a tight game,” said Swampscott’s Coach Jeremy Kacuba. “That’s probably, that’s gonna be a contender for the championship in Peabody, and we hope to see them again next tuesday. We’ll be ready for it.”
Again, Swampscott was there to answer the call. Cole Kacuba hit a single before moving around the bases to bring in another run. This is where Prideaux comes in with his second home run of the game at the top of the third. Things got interesting as the game moved into the fifth. Prideaux hit the ball out to the center field fence, then proceeded to steal second before heading home, making the game 5-2. Olivieri made an incredible save robbing Jonathon DeLoreto of a home run and keeping Peabody at their three run lead.
“Beau Olivieri is probably one of the best young athletes that you’ll see. Hockey, Football, Baseball, it doesn’t matter — heart of gold,” said Kacuba. “Beau is an all around athlete and one of those kids that’s super quiet but is at the heart of the team. He doesn’t say a lot but his conduct and the way he practices every day. He wants to take extra BP (batting practice) everyday. He’s a good young man. We have 13 of them, 13 good young men out here.”
Swampscott was not done yet with Brown hitting a double and Will Rowe hitting a homerun out to center, bringing them back in the game 5-4. Peabody shut them down in the bottom of the sixth with Mike Harris now on the mound going three for three with nine pitches, leading Peabody to the win.
“I made a bad call in the fifth and he hit a two run homer. I called a curve when I should have called a fastball and the kid took advantage of it,” said DeLoreto. “But a great game by us. We hit the ball well early. Did some small ball and got the lead. Nine pitches to close out the game, can’t ask for more than that.”
