SALEM — Less than a week after meeting in the District 16 championship game, Peabody and Swampscott found themselves squaring off again — this time, in the opening round of the Section 4 tournament (10-12).
Peabody won last week’s matchup, 4-0, but Wednesday night at Forest River Park, Swampscott pulled out a 2-1 victory in a tense, back-and-forth showdown.
With talent and momentum on both sides, you could say the 1-1 score during the sixth and final inning was no surprise.
Swampscott’s AJ Carter led off the sixth with a single. Jackson Danahy followed with a deep shot to right-center field that reached the wall for a stand-up double. Carter was waved around third, but Peabody’s relay throw was on time, cutting Carter down to keep things scoreless.
From there, Danahy advanced to third on a passed ball and Cooper Averett drew a walk to put runners on the corners with one out.
That set the stage for Danny Hall, who delivered a go-ahead RBI single up the middle, giving Swampscott its first sectional victory in dramatic, walk-off fashion.
Hall did more than just come through at the plate. He also turned in a strong outing on the mound, tossing four scoreless innings and striking out four batters.
Peabody received a quality start from Adam Grant, who struck out eight across 3 1/3 innings, while allowing just one hit and four total baserunners.
Swampscott opened the scoring in the fourth inning when Harry Fitzgerald drove in Averett with a sacrifice fly to right field.
Peabody responded quickly in the fifth. Wes Weed singled to center and later advanced to third. He then tied the game, 1-1, after a passed ball.
With excellent pitching, timely hits, and tight defense from both teams, the game had all the elements of a postseason classic.
