Published June 19, 2019
By DAN PAWLOWSKI
LOWELL — The LHS baseball team made it back to the Div. 3 North Final for an unprecedented fourth straight season.
The Pioneers were on a mission to win the final for the first time during that run, but ran into a tough Bishop Fenwick team on Saturday, who put together a six-run fourth inning to take control of the game and eventually win 8-2.
“The difference of the game was they got base hits with men on and we did not,” said Lynnfield head coach John O’Brien.
The Crusaders deserve plenty of credit for barreling up ace Fernando Gonzalez, whose velocity helped balls carry to deep in the outfield at Alumni Field in Lowell. Two errors in the frame also added to Fenwick’s lead.
“That’s the name of the game, throw strikes and make the plays. We threw the ball around a little bit there which is uncharacteristic of us and they capitalized; then they had a couple of clutch hits to the outfield; the ball traveled for them. Congrats to them they did a nice job, that’s a good program.”
Gonzalez had the look he has all season to start the game, striking out the side in the top of the first and collecting a two-RBI double on a smash to deep left-center scoring Jonathan Luders and John Singer.
THE PIONEERS made it back to the Div. 3 North Finals, this time at Alumni Field in Lowell, for the fourth consecutive season where they fell to Bishop Fenwick 8-2. (Dan Pawlowski Photo)
Gonzalez added four more strikeouts in quick second and third innings before the Crusaders finally caught up with him.
Jaret Simpson made his second snap throw of the day to pick off a runner at second to get the first out of the fourth after Gonzalez hit the first two batters but an RBI double from Trey Deloury unlocked the door and the following crusaders kicked it down as they reclaimed the lead for good.
A blooper by Ethan Belt and bad throw home resulted in a 2-2 tie, then an RBI double by Cory Bright made it 3-2, a bunt for a hit put runners at the corners and Gonzalez threw the ball into centerfield on the next bunt as he went for the lead runner. Two runs scored on that play to make it 5-2. An error on a throw to third resulted in the last run of the inning.
In a flash, Lynnfield went from cruising towards redemption to falling on the wrong side of the final once again.
Fenwick added two more runs in the fifth and the Pioneers couldn’t rally against a strong relief appearance by Fenwick’s Jake Miano who held Lynnfield scoreless from the second inning all the way to the end.
In that end, Lynnfield was certainly dissatisfied with the result, but hopefully the group and especially the seniors can soon understand how truly remarkable their run has been.
SOPHOMORE Trent Balian throws out a runner from third while senior captain Jonathan Luders proudly looks on. (Dan Pawlowski Photo)
Captains Luders, Gonzalez, Simpson and Matt Fiore continued Lynnfield’s excellent baseball tradition and brought it to extraordinary heights. Along with fellow seniors Sal Marotta, Brian Cardarelli, Grant Lang, Cory Castinetti, Phillip Tammaro, and Will Garofoli, the class of 2019 will go down as one of the most successful ever over a four-year run at LHS.
The culture they helped create will live on forever.
“I just told them to be proud of themselves, I know I am,” said O’Brien. “These seniors the last four years, I’d have to sit a minute but I bet you they won close to 80 games in four years. That’s good baseball and that’s a credit to them and their leadership.”
By our count, it’s an unofficial four-year record of 77-18.
They all mean a lot to O’Brien and his staff, but perhaps especially Luders, Gonzalez and Fiore who have had key roles on each team since their sophomore year.
In the bottom of the seventh, Luders walked with two outs. O’Brien called time and had a lengthy, heartfelt conversation with the shortstop.
It’s a conversation both would prefer keep to themselves.
“I will say he’s a terrific kid and a fantastic player…I’m sure you can fill in the blank,” said O’Brien. “It’s been a pleasure; all these guys.”
