LYNN — The Lynn Babe Ruth 15-year-old All-Star team achieved the same trip they got last year as 14s: the state finals.
The 15s took care of Maplewood — the team that defeated them in last year’s state final in a heartbreaking extra-innings affair — by a 4-1 score Thursday night at Clancy Field at Breed’s Ben Bowzer Complex.
It was a crisp, well-played game by both sides, with Lynn getting two runs in both the first and second innings and then holding on thanks to its pitching and defense. Maplewood grabbed an early 1-0 lead, which Lynn summarily erased, and then mounted only two threats the rest of the way, loading the bases with two out in the second and fourth innings. But starter Chris Marks put the first fire out, and then reliever Josh Domey quashed the second one.
“We played well in all facts,” said Coach Rich Avery. “We hit a lot of balls hard that were outs. It was good to see the bats come alive. Our pitching was great, and our defense was fantastic. We work hard on defense, and teach the kids to be where they’re supposed to be.”
That paid off in the fourth. Lynn was up 4-1, but Marks seemed to be getting tired. He hit the first batter, Owen Montes. Then, Peyton Travers hit a line drive to second base that Jayden Driscoll had to jump high to snag, but he did it. He then turned and threw off-balance to Richie Avery at first. Avery had to do a backhanded scoop to get Montes diving back into first for the double play.
The play became even more important because the next three hitters reached before Manager Leon Elwell called on Domey, who had pitched well in Tuesday’s tournament opener. Domey threw one pitch and got a foul pop that third baseman Matt Lewis ran down.
Maplewood scored right away in the top of the first when leadoff hitter Jeydon Espinal walked, stole second, and scored on an error.
However, Lynn doubled Maplewood up in the bottom of the inning. Seth Sullivan and Kyle Cummings singled, and both came home when Marks helped himself out immeasurably with a double to left.
“We always tell the kids that we want to win every inning,” Rich Avery said. “They put up one run, so we put up two. That’s what we want to do.”
In the second, staged a little two-out magic. Gilly Galva walked and took second on Driscoll’s infield single. Each runner moved up on an error, and Sullivan brought them home with a single.
Lynn didn’t make too much noise after that, though it hit the ball hard. The 15s got a runner on second with one out in the third, but he stayed there. From that point on, Ian Morris Campbell, Maplewood’s second pitcher, held Lynn in check.
Lynn will play at Adams Field in Quincy Saturday (3) against an opponent to be determined in the state final.
