LYNN — Beanies and blankets were back for Sunday’s game at Fraser Field, but St. Mary’s baseball team turned up the heat just in time.
The No. 10 Spartans defeated No. 23 Wakefield Memorial 3-2, securing their spot in the round of 16 in Division 2 (winner of Pope Francis-Reading Memorial).
With just three innings to go in a season, not a lot of teams can overcome a two-run deficit. Well, St. Mary’s isn’t one of those teams, tying the game in the fourth inning.
Things stayed that way until the bottom of the seventh, setting the stage for senior Tommy Falasca of St. Mary’s. A fully-aware Falasca said he didn’t want to end his Fraser Field career with anything but a hit.
“I just needed to step up big,” Falasca said. “I knew what I needed to do.”
He certainly did. Falasca hit one to right-center field, scoring Nick Maisano to end the game.
Falasca said he wasn’t trying to hit the ball anywhere in particular, and that coach Derek Dana told his boys to just make contact.
“I’m just trying to put it into play,” Falasca said. “I was just happy and ready to go to the next game.”
When asked about Falasca’s heroics, Dana said “he did it again today.”
“That’s a big hit,” Dana said. “He’s been on a state tournament team, so he knows what it’s like to make a run like that.”
As for how the Spartans stayed in the game, look no further than sophomore pitcher Josh Doney. Not only did he go the distance with seven strikeouts, but recorded a strikeout and a line-drive catch in the top of the seventh.
Dana credited Doney for reaching back after allowing two runs in the third inning.
“He was not the sharpest through the first four innings [and] the pitch count was up a little bit,” Dana said. “He really dialed himself back in.”
Trailing 2-0, Cam McGonagle hit a sacrifice-single to score Michael DeMaino in the fourth inning (2-1). Although his team has some sluggers, Dana knows the importance of small ball.
“At times, we’ve had to use that quite a bit,” Dana said. “We’ve got to find ways to fight, claw, and get that run across. That’s been a message all year long – you’ve got to compete in the batter’s box.”
From there, Seth Sullivan singled to score Tad Giardina and tie the game 2-2. Just like that, the fans at Fraser Field were roaring for a brand new game.
“That’s a tournament game and a competitive tournament game,” Dana said.
“This is home,” Falasca said. “Big fans everywhere.”
Falasca highlighted a quick top of the fifth inning, making two sharp plays to first base. Dana was, overall, satisfied with the defense behind Doney.
“Really good defense,” Dana said. “People being where they’re supposed to be.”
And in the sixth inning, Doney went 1-2-4 to keep momentum with the hosts.
“I think we started off really slow, but Josh really kept persevering and pitching well,” Falasca said.
Dana said no team is going to lay an egg in a state tournament game, and as long as his team knows that, it’ll be in good shape moving forward.
“I just got done telling them, ‘Now you understand what a total team win looks like,’” Dana said. “If your number is called, you’ve got to be ready to go.”
