Lynnfield 10-year-old All-Stars conclude terrific summer season

By STEPHEN MARTELLUCCI

LYNNFIELD — It was a successful tournament season for the Lynnfield 10-year-old baseball All-Stars this summer. The team went 4-0 to win the District 16 title. They then went 1-2 in Sectional 4 play.

“It was a great group of kids,” said Lynnfield manager Chris Cavallo, who is coaching the team for the second-straight year as he coached them as nine-year-olds last summer. “They did a really good job and I enjoyed coaching them. I would love to coach them again when they turn 11.”

The final game of the sectionals came on July 14 as they lost to Beverly, 10-8, at Ross Park in Peabody.

“We had three errors that led to four runs and that turned out to be the difference,” said Cavallo.

Lynnfield scored four runs in the top of the first inning but Beverly chipped away and eventually led, 10-5, going into the sixth inning as the scored four runs in the bottom of the third and fifth innings.

Lynnfield did not roll over as they scored three times in the top of the sixth to make things interesting before Beverly was able to get the final out.

Luca Mandell led the offense going a perfect 3 for 3 with three runs batted in. Matt Cavallo was 2 for 3 as he was the team’s other multiple hitter.

Lynnfield had nine hits overall.

Mandell was also the losing pitcher in relief as he gave up eight runs but he pitched much better than that as only four of them were earned.

In the game before, also at Ross Park, Lynnfield fell to eventual sectionals champions, Billerica, as they were shut out 4-0 on July 13.

“They had a very good pitcher who kept us off-balance,” said Cavallo. “We only got five hits off him and he struck out nine of us.”

Xander Maliawico pitched well. He went 4.2 innings allowing two earned runs, five hits, two walks and he struck out six.

In the opening game of the sectionals at Ross Park on July 12, Lynnfield blanked host West Peabody 14-0.

This game went all six innings as Lynnfield plated five runs in the top of the sixth inning. The other nine came in the top of the third.

Nico Mandell, Corbin O’Bleanes and Luca Mandell combined on the mound to post the shutout.

O’Bleanes was the winning pitcher allowing only one hit, two walks and one strikeout in 2.2 innings.

“The pitching was outstanding,” said Cavallo.

Nico Mandell led the offense going 3 for 4 with one RBI while Finn Charville (one RBI) and Luca Mandell (two RBI) both went 2 for 3.

That was the team’s third straight win against West Peabody as they beat them in the district final, 3-2, on July 5 also at Ross Park.

“That was a great pitchers duel,” recalled Cavallo. “The Mandell brothers did great and our defense did not commit an error.”

Nico started and went 4.1 innings. He gave up one run, one hit, two walks and he fanned six. Luca went the final 2.2 innings to record his second post-season save. He gave up one run, two hits, one walk and he struck out two.

The game ended in style as second baseman John Kayola made a leaping catch to end it.

The offense had 11 hits Luca Mandell and Dylan Delory both had RBI singles. The third run came when Genero Antonelli drew a walk with the bases loaded.

In the district semifinal game at Hurd Field in Saugus, on June 30, Lynnfield beat Peabody West, by a final of 7-3.

The offense pounded out 14 hits as four hitters had multiple hits. Cavallo, Kayola, Nico Mandell and Maliawico were all 2 for 3 at the dish. Mandell knocked in two while the three other players had one RBI each.

Trialing 3-0, Lynnfield scored two runs in the third and fourth innings. They then plated three in the bottom of the fifth.

“With the way our team hits, I never doubted we could come back,” said Cavallo.

The Mandell brothers combined again on the hill for the win. Nico went the first four frames allowing three runs, four hits, two walks and fanned eight.

Luca got the save going the rest of the game. He gave up one hit, two walks and he struck out three.

“He is only nine-years old but he did excellent in relief,” said Cavallo, about Luca.

In the second game of the districts back on June 25, Lynnfield rolled over Peabody, 12-4, at Kiley Park in Lynn.

The offense came up big again with 15 hits.

“We had 10 players who got hits that game,” pointed out Cavallo.

Five of them had two hits. Cavallo was 2 for 3 with one RBI while Kayla was 2 for 3 with two RBI. Luca Mandell went 2 for 3 with a team-high three RBI. Nico Cavallo was 2 for 3 with one RBI as was Delory.

Nico Mandell was the winning pitcher going 2.2 innings. He allowed three runs, two hits, four walks and he struck out six.

O’Bleanes pitched the final 3 1 innings allowing just one run.

combined, the hurlers had 11 strikeouts.

In the opening game of the tournament on June 24, Lynnfield beat Winthrop, 13-3, in a four-inning mercy-rule game at McAuther Field in Peabody.

“The hitting was very spread out,” said Cavillo. “We ran 12 deep that game.” The Mandell brothers and O’Bleanes were the three pitchers as Nico was credited the winning pitcher.

Lynnfield had 13 hits as Matt Cavillo was 2 for 2 with a walk and two RBI while his brother, Nico, went 2 for 3 with one RBI.

Nico Mandell reached base all three times as well going 2 for 2 with a walk and two RBI.