SWAMPSCOTT — When you play against a good team, you can’t afford to give up easy runs. On a cold Wednesday evening, Swampscott’s defensive miscues helped Salem leave enemy territory with a 6-1 win.
“We didn’t play particularly well defensively. All six runs they scored were unearned,” head coach Joe Caponigro said.
The game was tied 1-1 heading into the top of the fifth, and that’s when Swampscott’s defense began to crumble.
“The inning where they scored five runs – I think we gave them six outs, and that’s not a recipe for success,” Caponigro said.
Salem’s five-run inning was highlighted by a two-RBI double with the bases loaded, increasing its lead to 6-1 – the eventual final.
Despite the score, Swampscott’s pitching prowess was on full display.
The Big Blue’s freshman starter, Jamison Ford, got out of multiple jams. In the opening inning, the first two batters reached base, but Ford struck out three straight to retire the side.
Fast forward to the top of the fourth. Ford, again, found himself in trouble with the bases loaded and no outs. But, in response, a groundout and a strikeout highlighted another strong inning from Ford.
“He [Ford] worked his way out of jams and he got some help from our catcher Michael Collins who picked a guy off after a strikeout,” Caponigro said. “They are both freshmen. They showed a lot of grit.”
Caponigro said he’s been preaching three messages this season: throw strikes, make plays, and connect on timely hits. Admittedly, Caponigro said his team did just one of the three Wednesday.
“I thought we did a good job on the mound today, but the other two parts weren’t up to par,” Caponigro said. “We’ve got a long season and we’re going to work hard.”
Despite the strong pitching, Swampscott’s bats were cold, largely in part to excellent pitching from Salem.
“We didn’t swing the bat well early on. We didn’t make a lot of contact for the first three innings. It was just a tough outing for us,” Caponigro said
The Big Blue will look to get their first win of the season Saturday when they travel to Peabody with the first pitch scheduled for 11 a.m.
