If there was ever a team peaking for the postseason, it has to be the Lynnfield baseball team, which, after starting the season 4-2, has now won 14 straight games, the latest a 10-4 win Saturday over Reading that clinched a third straight Brendan Grant Memorial Tournament Championship at Belmont High School.
The win sealed an 18-2 season for the top-ranked Division 4 Pioneers, who now await the release of state tournament brackets on Wednesday.
Junior shortstop/pitcher Tyler Adamo earned Most Valuable Player honors. He had five hits in nine at-bats across two games, three of them doubles. He also scored five runs and, for good measure, collected two saves on the mound.
Drew George (1-for-2) and Madux Iovinelli (2-for-3, 3 R) delivered the goods against the Rockets with Iovinelli blasting a three-run homer in the first inning, and George, batting in the eight spot, giving the Pioneers the lead for good with a three-run, bases-loaded double in the sixth. Nick Groussis (2-for-3, R, RBI), Dylan Damiani (1-for-3, 2 R) and David Tracy (1-for-4, 2 R) also contributed.
BASEBALL
Swampscott 7
Lynn Classical 3
Ahead of Saturday afternoon’s Doug Mullins Memorial Baseball Tournament Championship, came the consolation showdown between Swampscott and Lynn Classical, one won by the Big Blue, 7-3.
Davis Palmer (3 IP, 3 R, 1 ER, 1 K) did his part on the mound for Swampscott (11-9), followed by relief pitchers Dawson DiBarri (1 K) and Quinn Fitzpatrick (2 K). Leading the way offensively were Nick Berube (2 H, 2 R), Jami Ford (2 H, 2 RBI), Jason Bouffard (3 RBI), and Chase Groothuis (RBI, 2 R).
Lynn Tech 8
Mystic Valley 2
Lynn Tech (11-8) coach Eddie Lewis said it best: “Today was the bounce back we’ve been looking for.”
That’s because his Tigers defeated Mystic Valley, 8-2, behind a combined 12 strikeouts from Eddie Lewis Jr. (7 K) and “young guy” Abiel Hernandez (5 K), as said by Coach Lewis.
Nevin Gonzalez (3-for-4) and Lewis Jr. (2-for-2) led the offensive charge.
“We were pretty much in complete control from start to finish today,” said Coach Lewis. “Once we tightened up our defense and played with some energy, we were able to make some things happen on both sides of the ball.”
Danvers 3
Peabody 2
Peabody – which led Danvers, 2-0, through five innings – had little-to-no answer for Michael Moroney of the Falcons, who tossed a gem en route to a consolation victory in the James Geanoulis and Gary Linehan Memorial Day Tournament.
Saturday, Peabody connected on just two hits in an 8-1 defeat to Wakefield. Those came courtesy of Jariel Tolentino and Mike Petro.
SOFTBALL
Peabody 15
Masconomet 3
Peabody exploded against Masconomet Sunday morning with Lizzy Bettencourt (2 HR) and Logan Lomasney (3 H, HR, 3 RBI) leading the charge. Avery Grieco punched out nine in the circle, also racking up three RBI with the bat.
Lynn Classical 8
Lynn English 1
Classical took care of traditional archrival English on the first day of the John Holland Tournament on Saturday, as Rachel Dana (3-for-4, 2 R, RBI) connected on her 100th career hit.
Some other contributing Rams were Nevaeh Eth (4-for-4, 2 R, RBI), Brooke Braswell (2-for-4, 3 RBI, 2 R), Ava Cahill (2-for-4), and Aysia Olaes (2 RBI).
St. Mary’s 15
Swampscott 2
Swampscott had no answer in Saturday’s opening day of the John Holland Tournament against St. Mary’s, which advanced to Sunday afternoon’s title game. The Spartans were led by Michaela Walker (3-for-4, 2 R, 3 RBI) and Lorynes Suriel (2-for-4, R, 3 RBI).
BOYS LACROSSE
St. John’s Prep 10
Hingham 5
The Prep wrapped up its regular season in style, doubling up host Hingham behind hat tricks from Jake Vana and Drew Bossi. Sam Wilmot, Brady Plaza and Nate Bernarducci played well defensively.
The Eagles trailed, 3-1, but rattled off six unanswered goals in a second-quarter barrage.
TRACK AND FIELD
The weekend came with MIAA state championship meets across multiple divisions. Below are some top finishes from local schools (press time):
Winthrop’s Nicholas Cappuccio – 21-10.50 long jump – 1st
Winthrop’s Nicholas Cappuccio – 11.21 100m – 1st
St. John’s Prep’s Athan Bezanson – PR 3384 pentathlon – 1st
Peabody’s Alex Jackson – PR 176-04 discus – 2nd
Peabody’s Evan Bedard – PR 44-10.5 triple jump – 3rd
St. John’s Prep’s Lincoln Massaro – PR 3226 pentathlon – 3rd
St. John’s Prep’s Kye McClory – 151-11 javelin – 3rd
Peabody’s Brian Stevens – PR 56.92 400H – 3rd
St. John’s Prep’s Merrick Barlow – PR 22-01 long jump – 4th
Peabody’s Alexandra Forgione – PR 117-11 discus – 4th
Winthrop’s George Galuris – 159-02 javelin – 4th
Lynnfield’s Nick Kelter – 43-04 triple jump – 4th
St. John’s Prep’s Mickey Kuleszka – PR 151-11 javelin – 4th
Lynnfield’s Zahir Mitchell – 21-03 long jump – 4th
Lynnfield’s Ryan DeBenedictis – 10-06 pole vault – 5th
Peabody’s Rile Michaud – PR 43-06 triple jump – 5th
St. Mary’s Scott Amin – 20-11.50 long jump – 6th
Lynnfield’s Shaelyn Moore – 7-06 pole vault – 6th
Peabody’s Aneudy Medrano – 152-09 javelin – 7th
Lynnfield’s Zahir Mitchell – 11.46 100m – 7th
Peabody’s Makayla Kokonezis – 34-04 triple jump – 8th
St. Mary’s Kyle Kwiatek – 4:34.52 mile – 8th
Swampscott’s Jamila Oriakhi – 33-03.50 shot put – 8th
Lynnfield’s Emilie Bell – 103-06 discus – 9th
Peabody’s Stella Ketchimen – PR 34-03 triple jump – 9th
Lynnfield’s Eli Mendese – 20-00.75 long jump – 10th
St. Mary’s Nick Miller – 51.46 400m – 10th
