LYNN — For the second year in a row, Peabody West Little League is the District 16 Champion. West cruised to a victory over Swampscott 8-3 at Charlie Reinfuss Field Thursday to clinch the title.
Going into the matchup, West had the luxury of having an extra game in its back pocket if it were to lose last night because the team had yet to lose throughout the tournament.
However, Manager Steve Lomasney made it clear that his team’s mindset was to go out and win the whole thing in one game.
“We had Ryan (Skerry) available. He is our ace, and he has been our ace all the way through. We were going to go at it with him and put our best defense out there behind him,” said Lomasney.
Peabody West started early as their first batter Ty Lomasney walked and eventually worked his way around the bases to home to take a 1-0 lead. One passed ball allowed Lomasney to take second, and on another, catcher Luc Tardiff made a frantic throw that went into left field, and Lomasney scored.
After the first run scored by West, the game sped up, and both pitchers Ryan Skerry for West and Cole Kacuba for Swampscott, settled in. However, it was just a matter of time before West looked to break it open as it had some solid contact leading to loud outs.
In the top of the third, West did just that behind a two-RBI double from Ricky Williams, making the game 3-0 West.
As Skerry continued to sail through his outing, West’s offense continued to mount its lead in the top of the fourth with the help of Jacob Sylvester, who got in on the two-RBI double play, making the game 5-0.
For most of the game, Swampscott’s bats were quiet, which had a lot to do with the performance of Skerry, but the team finally got on the board in the bottom of the fourth.
Jack Pavey hit an RBI single right over the second baseman’s head, and just like that, Swampscott had a chance to creep back into the game with the score at 5-1.
Unlike some of the games during West’s run, it did not allow a comeback to happen, keeping the pedal to the metal. Landon Lohnes and Tyler McMahon gave the team breathing room with an RBI double from Lohnes and an RBI sacrifice fly from McMahon.
“Our offense has been pretty solid from top to bottom the whole time. The complete at-bats by the entire team in that game were outstanding, just putting so much pressure on their defense, always putting the ball in play,” said Lomasney.
West continued its brigade of insurance runs in the top of the sixth from Williams on a tough grounder hit to first base that was played errantly, making the score 8-1.
Swampscott managed to muster two runs down to its final outs, but ultimately it was not enough, and West finished off the win 8-3.
On their tournament run, Lomasney said, “The kids just showed tremendous fortitude; we were put in some tricky situations … These kids just do not quit; they really do not quit.
Now with its eyes set on sectionals, the message is to stick with the plan that got them there. “I think we are just going to stick with the plan. We have had success so far,” said Lomasney.
He added, “The team has bought into an approach at the plate, we have very good pitching, our defense is solid, we run the bases well, we are going to continue to pressure defenses and stick with the plan; that is how we are going to play this game.”
