LYNN — Game 1 of the Doug Mullins Memorial Baseball Tournament was a low-scoring, fast-moving showdown between St. Mary’s and Swampscott, one the Spartans won, 1-0.
Game 2 between Lynn Classical and Lynn English, not so much. It saw the Bulldogs escape the Rams, 8-7, after some late-night – and late-inning – drama at Fraser Field.
A tied ballgame late, English’s Jariel Benzan hit a deep fly ball to left field in the top of the seventh inning, which looked like the third out, but the ball was dropped, scoring three Bulldogs to make it 8-5.
Classical went down swinging in response. Rolky Brea brought in Mark Walsh from second with an RBI double (8-6).
Then, with the tying run on base, Classical got a hit that scored one runner, but the second runner overran third base and was tagged going home.
Ballgame.
Just like they’ve done a few times this season, the Bulldogs refused to quit – especially in the seventh inning.
After an RBI single from Almani Gerardo (2 RBI) to put Classical ahead, 5-4, in the bottom of the sixth, English walked the bases and secured the game-tying run with just one out to spare in the seventh.
Gilbert Galva, Guilmer Galva, and Julian Rodriguez all went home with RBI for the Bulldogs.
English takes on St. Mary’s at 2 p.m. in Saturday’s championship game. As for Classical, it takes on Swampscott in the consolation game at 11 a.m.
