PEABODY— After knocking off Swampscott, 2022 District 16 champion Peabody West now looks ahead to the state sectionals, with a chance to go on a long run similar to the 2021 team that won the state.
If you just looked at the records of all the teams in the district tournament, you would think West sauntered through easily, seeing as it never lost. However, it was the opposite. The players battled through the tournament tooth and nail from the opening game.
“Even early, the first game we played, we jumped out to a huge lead, and the team came back on us, and we had to turn around and put up some more runs. It just seemed almost every game was like that,” said manager Steve Lomasney.
Some may say West’s habit of letting teams back into games could come back to haunt the players, but what they do after the initial comeback from the opponent shows marks of a true championship team.
West’s 12-year-olds have shown immense mental toughness that could prove to be an x-factor for a run they hope eclipses the 2021 team’s run.
The team’s mental toughness was evident throughout the districts, especially against Peabody, responding with its bats in extra innings to win after blowing a lead in the bottom of the sixth or holding off Saugus, which was making a late comeback.
Accompanied with mental toughness comes the experience West has had as well. Ryan Skerry and Ty Lomasney were on the 2021 state champions and will know what to expect come sectionals.
While West’s fortitude and experience could put it over the top in sectionals and beyond, the team’s play, in general, is an enormous reason why they have a chance to go on a deep run.
“Collectively, from one to 13, they are putting up good at-bats, and doing that puts a lot of pressure – when you are in pitch count situations with these teams, and you are driving the pitch count up, and you are forcing two three four pitchers to come into a game it really helps because nobody is really that deep at pitching,” said Lomasney Thursday after clinching the D16 title.
Not only are the bats hot for West, but they also have some great arms like their aces Skerry and Andrew Wenzel to keep their opponents at bay.
Another thing that worked in West’s favor that Lomasney mentioned after the victory Thursday is the rest that allowed it to set its rotation for the game.
“That was big for us to win the last game and get the day’s rest being able to turnaround with Skerry, and even if we did not pull this off, we had Wenzel tomorrow night. We had our pitching pretty much lined up for success,” said Lomasney.
Lomasney can line up his pitching and get his team ready for success once again as sectionals do not begin until Wednesday in what could be the next step of an even more extended summer of baseball for West.
