SAUGUS — A real pitchers’ duel. That’s about the only way to describe Sunday’s District 16 11-year-old all-star battle between Peabody West and Lynnfield, won by West by the slimmest of margins, 1-0, at Hurd Field. With the win, West punched its ticket to the championship game Friday at 7:30 p.m. at Hurd.
Scoreless through five innings, it all came down to the sixth. West’s Logan Dresser led off with a walk and stole second. Lynnfield’s Brett McMillan struck out the next batter. Nick Dattoli (1-for-3) singled to shallow left, moving Dresser to third base. Dattoli stole second, giving West two runners in scoring position with just one out. Cam Segee was hit by a pitch, loading the bases for Logan LaTorella. LaTorella reached first on a fielders’ choice to short with Dresser being gunned down at the plate for the second out. Lynnfield, however, couldn’t dodge a second bullet when Parker Santos (1-for-3, RBI) drilled an RBI single to bring Dattoli home with the game winner.
“Like I said earlier, we considered this a must-win game,” West coach Sean Dattoli said. “We struggled to get things going. We were making contact and Lynnfield was just making the plays but we stepped up when we needed to. I couldn’t be any prouder of this team.”
“Phenomenal pitching and defense on both sides,” Lynnfield manager Sam White said.
McMillan got the start for Lynnfield and went 5 and ⅔ innings, allowing just the one run on two hits with five strikeouts and two walks. Nolan Dubois mopped up, allowing one hit. Lynnfield had only two hits – one single each from Zac Mancinelli and Keegan McLaughlin. Lynnfield’s only other base runners were Luke Hudson, who walked, and William Butler and Ben Halpern, who were hit by pitches.
Santos got the start for West and went the distance, striking out seven to earn the win.
“Parker was great for us today. We went in considering this was a must-win game and he got the job done,” coach Sean Dattolii said. “We couldn’t have asked for any more from him.”
Dattoli also highlighted the play of catcher Cam Segee.
“We ask a lot of Cam especially on days like today and he always steps up,” Dattoli said.
Dattoli said another player who stepped up for West was shortstop Owen Skerry.
He made what might have been the defensive play of the game for West when he turned a 6-3 double play in the third inning. Dattoli said it was “the turning point in the game.”
“Owen’s play was great,” Dattoli said. “I felt that really turned the momentum our way. Owen is a great player and it shows when he makes plays like that.”
Lynnfield needed to win its next game to get to the final. The Pioneers were scheduled to play the winner of Monday’s game between Peabody and Swampscott on Tuesday at Salem at 7:30 p.m. (results too late to print). The winner of Tuesday’s game advances to the championship game against West.
