Blink, and you just might be at the state tournament.
Not only did Saturday night see two traditional archrivals – Lynn Classical and Lynn English – square off at Fraser Field for some nighttime baseball, but playoff implications were aplenty.
The Rams – in the driver’s seat, racing toward the Division 1 postseason behind first-year coach Leon Elwell – entered with seven wins. The Bulldogs, on the other hand, were in need of a midseason push and entered Saturday with just three wins.
Saturday, ‘Dogs pounced.
English defeated Classical, 5-2, with all of its runs coming across the first two innings. Jariel Benzan led the way with a 3-for-3 night, picking up two RBI. He singled in the first and second innings, then tripled in the fifth.
Gilbert Galva plated two more runs and Gamalier Calderon also secured an RBI. On the bump, English right-hander Alijah Wallace (win) struck out three and allowed just three hits across six innings. Guilmer Galva collected the save.
But it wasn’t all bad for Classical, which received hits from Almani Gerardo, Rolky Brea (RBI), and Elijah Morin. Christian Figueroa (RBI) also played well, according to Elwell, punching out 10 across six innings.
Neither side committed an error, the Bulldogs won the hits category (5-3), and Classical stole five bases.
English (4-7; No. 57 in D1) visits Chelsea at 4 p.m. on Monday, while Classical (8-5, No. 44 in D2) hosts Somerville the same night at 7 p.m.
