LYNN — With temperatures in the low 40s, a cold wind blowing in from center field, and a steady drizzle of rain, Fraser Field wasn’t exactly the most pleasant place to be Saturday morning. But the Lynnfield baseball team found the frigid conditions to its liking, pounding a young Lynn Classical team 9-1 on opening day.
It took a few innings for the Pioneers to get the bats going, but once they did, it was lights out. Tied 1-1 after five, the Pioneers exploded for eight runs in the last two innings – the big hit a two-run bomb by junior Madux Iovinelli in the sixth.
Senior captain David Tracy (5 innings, 3 walks, 4 strikeouts, hit, unearned run) and junior captain Tyler Adamo (2 innings, 2 walks, 3 strikeouts) combined to allow only one hit.
“We are just looking to drive the ball and have good at-bats and be smart on the bases,” Lynnfield head coach John O’Brien said. “We had our opportunities and were just trying to put some pressure on them. Our guys threw strikes and played pretty well in the field and I know the kids are happy to get that first one.”
Sophomore Rolky Brea got the start for the Rams and threw 5.1 innings, allowing just three runs on two hits, two walks with three strikeouts. He was one of six Rams making their first varsity starts.
“He kept us in the game for five innings and pitched a great game,” said first-year Classical coach Leon Elwell. “That was his first time stepping on the mound in a varsity game. His pitch count was getting up and it was cold and raw out there, so we didn’t want to keep him out there any longer. Over those first five innings, we played really good defense, but our inexperience showed at the end.”
The Rams took a 1-0 lead in the first. Leadoff hitter Almani Gerardo (1-for-2, 2 walks) walked, stole second and scored on an infield error. Lynnfield matched the run in the top of the third. Senior Cole Hawes (2 stolen bases) and junior Charlie Morgan (2) pulled off a double steal after reaching base on walks. Hawes advanced to third on a passed ball and came around to score when Morgan stole second.
The Pioneers broke the game open with a four-run sixth. Adamo (1-for-3, 2 runs) led off with a double, advanced to third on junior Nick Groussis’ (1-for-3, run) sacrifice bunt, and scored on Tracy’s long sac fly to right. Iovinelli followed with a blast over the fence in right, scoring senior captain Anthony Grabau (on base with a walk) to make it a 3-1 game. Senior captain Owen Mullin (1-for-2) then walked, stole second, advanced to third on senior Dylan Damiani’s (2-for-4) infield single, and scored on a balk.
Lynnfield kept its foot on the gas in the seventh – the big hits being RBI doubles from Groussis and Tracy. Iovinelli reached on an error, with Tracy coming home on the play, then Mullin singled home Iovinelli (2-for-4, 2 runs scored) to put the game out of reach at 9-1.
Elwell had good words to say about a couple of freshmen who made their first varsity starts for the Rams.
“Shortstop Mark Walsh played a really good game,” Elwell said. “And our catcher, Bob DiSaia, was another freshman in his first varsity game and also did a nice job.”
Despite being on the wrong end of the score, Elwell added that he took away some positives.
“We hung in there with a really good program for five innings. Obviously, we’re disappointed with the loss, but we had a lot of young guys playing their first varsity games, so we need to take the positives out of it. Eight runs there in the last two innings, so we need to learn how to better close out games. We have things to work on, but, overall, I’m pleased with the effort.”
O’Brien said that, other than the slow start at the plate, he, too, saw some good things.
“I think the first time through, everybody was overanxious. We were hitting fly balls and we’re not a fly-ball team,” he said. “I think David pitched very, very well. He had a nice job and had a big base hit and sac fly, which was actually the game-winner. And Tyler came on and did a nice job.”
Lynnfield (1-0) is back in action at home Thursday against Triton (4), while the Rams’ next game is Monday at Everett (4:15).
