PEABODY — The 9-year-old West kids took down the Danvers Nationals 8-1 to move on to the finals in the Stan Brown Tournament.
“That team (Danvers) beat us last time we played. We were winning and last time we played them into the bottom of the fifth and they came back and beat us. They were a good team, we blew it at the end of the last game but we came back today and we held strong,” said Peabody West’s Coach Phil Ragusa.
Danvers went one-two-three in the top of the first.
Peabody West came out ready to go in the bottom of the first. Bryce Ragusa hit a single and advanced to second when Cam Segee walked. Ragusa then stole third and Segee stole second on a wild pitch. Owen Skerry then walked, loading the bases for Leo Pietrosanto who hit a single and sent home Ragusa and Segee making the score 2-0. Luca Mosca then walked, loading the bases once again but all were left on.
“We got great pitching, great fielding, and great hitting. Our kids did everything we asked them to do today. That was a good game by our guys,” said Ragusa.
Ethan Graham hit a double for Danvers in the top of the second but was left stranded.
Luke Pelletier hit a single and advanced to second on Matthew Varoudakis’s hit but was left on.
David Ambrozovich led off with a double for Danvers in the top of the third but was left on.
“I gotta tip my hat to West. They came out and struck early and they stayed on top. We just couldn’t chase up, you know, their pitcher was on fire tonight,” said Danvers’s Coach Ross Graham. “We were putting the ball in play but they were making plays. They were the better team so, that’s what happened, the better team usually wins.”
Ragusa walked to start the bottom of the third. Segee also walked before Logan Latorella hit a single driving in Ragusa and Segee, making the score 4-0, before coming home on Mosca’s single, bringing the score to 5-0 at the end of the third.
Danvers’s Ty Gonzalez hit a single before stealing second only to be left stranded.
Varoudakis walked in the bottom of the fourth and then proceeded to steal second. Nick Dattoli hit a double driving in Varoudakis, making the score 6-0. Dattoli then stole the third and then home, bringing the score to 7-0 at the end of the fourth.
“Our base running was really good and we took advantage of all the past balls and any overthrows. We were tagging up to any fly balls to the outfield. I mean we took advantage of everything that they gave us today,” said Ragusa. “We didn’t let up like we did last time. That’s what cost us the game and this time we didn’t let up.”
MJ Smith hit a triple for Danvers in the top of the fifth before coming home on Reece Goehlert’s single, making the score 7-1. Goehlert was then thrown out at the second ending of the half.
Skerry hit a single and advanced to second on Pietrosanto’s single. Skerry then stole third while Pietrosanto stole second. Skerry came home on Mosca’s fly ball making the score 8-1. Pietrosanto was left stranded on third.
Kenny Blake was hit by a pitch at the top of the sixth but was left on to end the game with a final score of 8-1.
“That’s the thing about our team. I’ll put any of these guys in any position and I trust that they’ll make the play. They’re all really really good ball players,” said Ragusa. “Our kids are all best friends, they love each other and that’s what makes this team different from any other team. They’re all buddies after we won a tournament in Lynn. After the game, they all slept at my house, all 12 of them, and they had a blast. They just have fun, win or lose.”
“I just told them out there: we didn’t get the win but the friendships and memories that they built throughout the summer outweigh any ‘W’ and there’s no doubt about that. They’re all leaving here high-fiving each other with no tears on their faces and that’s awesome,” said Graham. “They fought and they lost and that’s okay. They had a great summer.”
Peabody West now takes on Melrose Saturday. “We play against Melrose in the finals. We won the losers bracket so now we have to beat the winner’s bracket champion, which is Melrose. We have to beat them two times,” said Ragusa. “So we gotta win the first one and then win Sunday’s game and then that’s that.”
Maddi Filip can be reached at [email protected].
