The Lynnfield 11-year-old Little League All Star team is just one win away from playing for a state championship.
A win in Monday’s Section 4 championship game (6 p.m. at Boudreau Field at Stage Fort Park in Gloucester) would punch the team’s ticket to the state tournament, to be played July 19-20 at Moulton Field in Danvers (TBD).
But to do so, the team will have to get past District 15 champion Beverly, which defeated Lynnfield, 5-0, Sunday afternoon in the final pool play game. Beverly eliminated Lynnfield last year in the 10-year-old sectional tournament.
“The kids have worked so hard these last six weeks and have been very dedicated and focused in every game and practice. They’ve achieved so far and are so excited,” said Coach Chris Cavallo. “It came down to one bad inning (Sunday). Over the course of seven games, to say we had one bad inning is great. We have lots of incentive after losing to them last year, so I think we will be laser-focused and ready to play tomorrow.”
Only two of Beverly’s runs were earned. Nico Cavallo (3 1/3 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 5 K) and Ben O’Hara (1 2/3 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 0 ER, 2 K) scattered eight hits along the way, but the bats fell silent for Lynnfield. Luca Mandell, Nico Cavallo, Ben O’Hara, Matthew Geary, and Fin Charville had one hit apiece.
The 11s opened the tournament with a 6-3 win over District 16 runner-up Danvers National Friday night under the lights at Boudreau Field.
Nico Mandell had a monster game, batting 3-for-3 with one run and an RBI. Dylan Delory (1-for-1, R) had a big two-run triple(1-for-1, R). Maverick Murphy (1-for-2) also had two RBI. John Kayola (R), Luca Mandell, Nico Mandell (R, RBI), Nico Cavallo, O’Hara (R) had one hit apiece, while Genaro Antonelli and Alexandra Maliawco scored one run each.
Nico Mandell (1 2/3 IP, 4 K), O’Hara (2 IP, H, 2 K), Luca Mandell (1 2/3 IP, H, 2 R, 1 ER) and Nico Cavallo (2/3 IP, 2 H, R, 2 K) held Danvers to just four hits.
Lynnfield improved to 2-0 with a 4-2 win over District 13 champion Stoneham on Saturday. Murphy led the offense with two hits. Kayola (1-for-3, R), Luca Mandell (1-for-3), Nico Mandell (1-for-2) and Maliawco had one RBI apiece. O’Hara (R), Delory, and Charville (R) also had hits. Matthew Cavallo chipped in with one run scored.
Maliawco (4 1/3 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 6 K) and Luca Mandell (1 2/3 IP, H, 2 K) combined for the win.
As for Lynnfield’s 10-year All-Stars, they needed a win Sunday against District 15 champion Danvers American to stay alive in the Section 4 tournament at Billerica’s Pollard Field, but came up on the short end of a 10-0 score and were eliminated.
Coach Casey Paton said his team, which finished pool play with a 1-2 record, simply “ran out of pitching.
“With so many games, it came down to that,” Paton said. “We also left so many runners on base when we couldn’t get timely hits. We thought having to play so many straight games coming out of the losers’ bracket in the district tournament and winning the title was monumental for us, but we just didn’t have it today. But, all is good and the kids had a good run.”
Lynnfield opened the tournament with a 7-5 win against District 13 champion Reading last Friday, then fell to District 13 runner-up Andover, 12-2, in four innings Saturday.
