BEVERLY — It was truly a battle of two teams who gave everything to make the championship game. Unfortunately for Swampscott, its journey fell short against Danvers National 1-3 in the Section 4 Little League game in 10 innings.
Swampscott got on the board first as Jett Nichols led the game off with an infield single. On a passed ball Nichols swiped second. Then Gavin Cerrutti brought home Nichols with an RBI single to center field to give the hosts a 1-0 advantage.
Beckett Brown got the nod on the mound for Swampscott and he went 5 1/3 innings with seven strikeouts and one earned run.
The earned run came in the top of the fourth inning when Teddy Blake led off the inning with a solo blast on a 1-2 count to tie the game at one.
Then it was all about pitching and defensive plays. Swampscott’s third baseman Kate Pavey had herself a day. Pavey converted two double plays on her own. The first one came in the first inning when she fielded a hard-hit grounder, tagged third, and then punched out the runner at first.
In the fourth inning, Pavey struck again, this time catching a line drive at third and throwing out the runner at first.
Swampscott had its opportunities to score, but couldn’t find the go-ahead run. In the top of the 10th inning, it was Blake again being the difference maker, sending a two-run home run to give Danvers National a 3-1 lead.
Swampscott got a run back in the bottom of the 10th with a two-out SAC-Fly from Jason Fabiszewski to score Connor Mohan, but it wasn’t enough and its hope of getting to the championship game ended.
Danvers National will face Acton-Boxborough in the Section 4 Little League All-Star Championship game on Saturday at 10 a.m.
