LYNNFIELD — With the temperature at a frosty 43 degrees, steady rain falling, and wind gusts that had fans bundled up like it was the middle of winter, what’s to like about high school baseball in the spring?
Everything if you are the Lynnfield High baseball team after Saturday’s dramatic come-from-behind walk-off 5-4 win over visiting Swampscott in extra innings.
Lynnfield senior Walter Radulski (3-for-4, 2 RBI) was the man of the hour, singling home Oliver Morgan with the game-winning run in the bottom of the eighth.
Radulski also came up huge on the mound. Inheriting a 4-0 deficit in the fourth, he pitched four scoreless innings in relief, allowing only one hit (an infield single) with three strikeouts and two walks.
“Walter came in and settled down, and it was fitting that he got the big hit at the end,” said Lynnfield Coach John O’Brien. “He did a great job to help us get the win. I’m happy for the kids. We righted the ship. We got a couple of big hits when we needed them and big pitching at the end. It was great to get the win.”
Swampscott Coach Joe Caponigro said, “It was a well-played game,” for the most part.
“We gave them a lot of free bases with walks and that’s not the recipe for success,” he said. “But credit to them – they got a timely hit. We couldn’t seem to get that.”
The Big Blue set the tone early, drilling four consecutive base hits to start the game. Center fielder Adam Sparacio (1-for-4, R) led off with a long double and scored on shortstop Caden Ross’ single. After Ross (1-for-4, RBI) was erased trying to stretch it into a double, second baseman Chase Groothuis (2-for-4, 2 R, 2 doubles) doubled to left and scored on a single by first baseman Dylan DiFilippo (2-for-3, R, RBI) to put the Big Blue on top, 2-0, after one.
Swampscott added two more in the third, the big hit being a two-run single from right fielder Jamison Ford (1-for-4), scoring Groothuis (double) and DiFilippo (walk).
Radulski took over for starter Harris Hadzihasanovic in the fourth and shut down Swampscott’s offense for the next four innings.
Meanwhile, Lynnfield’s offense started to make some noise in the fourth. Center fielder Madux Iovinelli and Luke DiSilvio (2-for-2, 2 R, RBI) led off with walks. Iovinelli came around to score on catcher Matt Tracy’s (1-for-4, R, RBI) ground out, then a two-out single from Radulski cut the Big Blue’s lead in half, 4-2.
DiSilvio and second baseman Dylan Nguyen (1-for-4) led off the sixth with singles. Swampscott’s David Palmer came on in relief for starter Will Brogna (5 IP, 3 ER, 4 H, 3 BB, K) and got Tracy to ground into a 6-4-3 double-play ball with DiSilvio coming around to score and make it a 4-3 game.
Palmer (K, 2 BB) ran into trouble in the seventh. He walked three of the first five batters, loading the bases with two outs. Groothuis (BB, 2 H, ER) came on in relief and walked DiSilvio, bringing home right fielder Charlie Morgan to send the game into extras tied at 4-4.
Shortstop Tyler Adamo relieved Radulski in the top of the eighth. He needed only a handful of pitches to retire the side and earn his first win of the season.
Tracy got things started in the eighth with a leadoff single. Oliver Morgan, pinch running for Tracy, stole second, setting the stage for Radulski, who laced a 3-2 pitch up the middle.
“Matt wasn’t trying to kill the ball. He was just trying to line the ball up the middle, which is what we’ve been trying to preach,” O’Brien said. “Walter didn’t try to do too much and was just trying to get the ball on the ground and he did. Ollie just kept on running, coming around third. That’s where his speed comes in.”
“Tough day, but I thought our starter, Will Brogna, pitched outstanding. He did a great job for us and I’m proud of him,” Caponigro said. “Credit to Lynnfield – they’re a good club and they got timely hits, which we didn’t do.”
Swampscott’s next game is Wednesday against Marblehead at Seaside Park (4:30 p.m.). Lynnfield is back in action in Newburyport Thursday (4 p.m.).
