Lynnfield ends 17-year district drought, beats Peabody West

SAUGUS — It had been 17 years since Lynnfield’s 12-year-old Little League All-Stars last won a district championship.

The drought ended Thursday.

Heading into Thursday’s District 16 final against Peabody West, Lynnfield, on paper, looked to be a huge favorite having outscored its opponents by a whopping 40-0 margin. Lynnfield was looking to make it three straight district titles having won as 11s and 10s.

Peabody West, meanwhile, faced adversity from the start after dropping its opening game of the tournament to Winthrop and battling through the loser’s bracket to keep its season alive.

These two teams brought the best out of each other in the championship game, which wasn’t decided until the sixth inning. Lynnfield broke a 3-3 tie with two runs to complete a come-from-behind 5-3 victory and punch its ticket to the Section 4 tournament.

“We’ve played these guys every year in the finals — as 10s, 11s and now 12s. We also played them as 9s and 8s, so we know them pretty well and they know us,” Lynnfield manager Chris Cavallo said. “When we’re playing each other, you know it’s going to be a good game. I think our boys showed a lot of resolve. They’re a hardy, gritty team and know how to win tough games.”

“Going into it, we had a game plan. We had some older kids come to practice yesterday to get used to the velocity, and it kind of paid off,” Peabody West manager Shaun Coburn said. “For the most part, the kids executed, and it was a great game. I’m very proud of them. Just the way they made plays made it so exciting.”

After Peabody West starter Brayden Coburn (2 2/3 IP, 1 R, 2 H, 2 K, 2 BB) retired the side in order in each of the first two innings, Lynnfield took a 1-0 lead in the top of the third. Ben O’Hara led off with a walk, advanced to second on Gennaro Antonelli’s groundout, moved to third on a wild pitch and scored when a ball off the bat of Matty Geary was booted.

Peabody West answered with three runs in the bottom of the fourth. Dylan Giacalone and Connor Segee drew leadoff walks before Tyler DeAmelio (1-for-3, double) bunted them into scoring position. Robbie Stanziani (1-for-3, R) singled to score Giacalone and tie the game at 1-1. Segee scored on an infield error before Gaetano Fodera drove in Stanziani with a groundout to give West a 3-1 lead.

“We knew we were going up against one of the best pitchers in the state, so part of the game plan was to play small ball and manufacture some runs,” Coburn said. “The kids just executed.”

Lynnfield tied the game in the top of the fifth. Antonelli (1-for-2, R, RBI) singled and later scored on a bases-loaded walk to Jack Feeley. Dylan Delory reached on an infield error and scored on Matt Cavallo’s (1-for-3, RBI) single to center.

In the sixth, Nico Cavallo (2-for-3, R) and John Kayola (1-for-3, R) hit back-to-back one-out singles. Maverick Murphy reached on an infield error to load the bases before Ben O’Hara (1-for-2, R, RBI) drilled an RBI single to right, scoring Cavallo. Kayola then scored on a bases-loaded walk to Antonelli.

Nico Mandell (4 IP, 3 R, 2 H, 8 K, 4 BB) and reliever Luca Mandell (2 IP, 1 H) combined for the victory. Luca Mandell surrendered a one-out double to Segee in the bottom of the sixth but retired the final two batters on infield groundouts to seal the win.

“Luca threw strikes and let them put the ball in play, and we showed we could handle it,” Cavallo said. “Even after errors, these guys pick each other up. All season long, all district long, I told them to stay confident and stay positive with each other. We’re going to make mistakes; they’re 12 years old. We’re going to make errors. Stay positive, and you’re going to have your chance, whether it’s in the field or at bat, and they did.”

The Section 4 tournament begins Wednesday, July 22, at Deyermond Field in Andover. Lynnfield’s opponent and game time have yet to be determined.

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Lynnfield celebrates after defeating Peabody West and becoming the Massachusetts Little League District 16 Champions Thursday evening.

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Lynnfield celebrates after defeating Peabody West and becoming the Massachusetts Little League District 16 Champions Thursday evening.

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Lynnfield pitcher Nico Mandell throws out Peabody West's Gaetano Fodero as he races down the first base line.

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Lynnfield's Nico Mandell makes solid contact with a Peabody West pitch.

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Peabody West's Jaxson Vallatini makes contact with a pitch.

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Peabody West's Tyler DeAmelio celebrates with his team after a double as Lynnfield's Matt Cavallo looks on.

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Lynnfield's Marco Beuilacqua tumbles after diving for the ball.

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Lynnfield's Nico Cavallo makes solid contact with a pitch.

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Peabody West catcher Austin Burke makes the tag on Lynnfield's Luca Mandell as he slides into home.

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Lynnfield firstbaseman Ben O'Hara makes the catch at first for the final out, making Lynnfield the District 16 Champions.

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Lynnfield firstbaseman Ben O'Hara leaps in the air with pitcher Luca Mandell as they celebrate with their teammates after beating Peabody West and becoming the Massachusetts Little League District 16 Champions.