Throw strikes, trust each other defensively, and let the bat introduce itself to the ball. Do those things, and it may just lead to a 12-2 record.
The beat goes on for the Lynnfield baseball team, which extended its winning streak to eight games with three victories this past week. Defense and pitching are getting the job done, with the Pioneers surrendering an average of one run per game during the streak.
Ranked No. 3 in the MIAA Division 4 power rankings behind top-ranked Uxbridge and Northbridge, the Pioneers’ latest conquest was a 10-0 mercy-rule win in six innings over visiting Essex Tech Saturday.
Talk about a Happy Senior Day. Everything was clicking for the Pioneers in this one, especially for senior starter Ryan MacEachern. He tossed a two-hitter with one strikeout and no walks and helped his own cause at the plate, going 2-for-3 with two runs scored.
Senior captain and Fordham University-bound Anthony Grabau (run, stolen base) had a massive game with three hits and five RBI. Junior captain Tyler Adamo (2-for-2, 3 runs, 2 stolen bases) and Madux Iovinelli (2-for-3, run, stolen base) also had multiple-hit games.
Dylan Damiani (1-for-2, run) knocked in two runs and senior captain Owen Mullin (1-for-4, run stolen base) knocked in another. Senior captain David Tracy (run) also had a base hit.
Thursday at home in a 3-1 final against Manchester-Essex, the Pioneers only had six hits, but made the most of them. Tracy (2-for-2) came up clutch, driving in all three Pioneers’ runs.
He singled home Grabau (on base by error) in the third and added two more with a 2-run single in the fourth, plating Drew George (1-for-3) and Adamo (2-for-4), both on base with singles. Damiani also had a hit.
Ben Dahlstedt earned the win and went the distance, allowing four hits across seven innings. He struck out 10 Hornets and did not walk a batter.
“He throws strikes. I think he walked one guy. He keeps the ball low and works fast, which is great for the guys behind him,” said Lynnfield coach John O’Brien.
And against Newburyport, it was more of the same in a 3-0 shutout.
O’Brien did admit, however, that “Every time we play them, it’s tough. It’s been like that since I started here.”
It was true, but the bottom half of the Pioneers’ batting order provided the offensive fireworks, helping Lynnfield pick up an important Cape Ann League win.
Mullin (2-for-3, run, RBI, 2 stolen bases), Damiani (2-for-3, RBI) and senior Matt Papagikos (2-for-3, RBI) had six of the Pioneers’ eight hits.
Tracy twirled a two-hitter and earned the win with a complete-game effort. He struck out seven and walked one.
“He did a great job on the mound,” O’Brien said.
No. 5 hitter Iovinelli got things started in the top of the second with a walk. He stole second and scored on Mullin’s RBI single to make it 1-0.
In the fourth, Mullin laced a two-out single, stole second, and scored on Damiani’s RBI single to double the lead. The Pioneers added some insurance in the top of the seventh. Damiani singled and Charlie Morgan, running for Damiani, stole second and scored on Papagikos’ RBI single.
The Pioneers clinched the state tournament with the win.
“Congratulations to the kids. They worked hard,” O’Brien said. “And my assistant coaches. I have a great group and I’m very lucky.”
