By STEPHEN MARTELLUCCI

DANVERS — In the semifinal game of the Stan Brown Tournament in Danvers last Saturday afternoon, the Lynnfield 9-year old All-Star baseball team edged Peabody West, 7-6, that featured a wild final inning.

Lynnfield was in control heading into the top of the sixth as they led 5-1.

However, Peabody West, who beat Lynnfield 7-6 the previous Saturday in the Wyoma Sawyer Walsh title game in Lynn, rallied.

They ended up plating five runs to take a one-run lead.

Lynnfield did not get down after that rally and were able to pull out the win as they scored two runs in the bottom of the sixth to advance to the tournament final.

John Kayola was the hero in this one as, with two outs, he delivered a two-run single to right-center field to end the game.

“He was very clutch,” stated Lynnfield head coach Bill Mandel, about the second baseman. “He has been playing with a lot of confidence.”

Lynnfield scored three runs in the bottom of the third inning. Peabody West then scored once in the top of the fifth but Lynnfield answered with two runs in the bottom of the fifth to go up 5-1.

West, who went 3-1 against Lynnfield this summer, then plated five runs in the top of the sixth to take their first lead.

The winning pitcher was Matty Cavallo who pitched the final inning. He gave up two earned runs, two hits, two walks and he struck out one.

Nico Mandell started and went 2 2/3 innings allowing no runs, one hit, two walks and he fanned six. Dan O’Hara was the second pitcher going 2 1/3 innings. He allowed four runs, five hits, three walks and he struck out five.

Lynnfield’s offense had 11 hits led by Zander Maliawdo who was a perfect 3 for 3 at bat. Kayola also had a big game going 2 for 3 with a walk and a team-high four runs batted in.

Cavallo was the team’s third multiple hitter going 2 for 4 with one RBI.

 Nico Mandell had an RBI on a fielder’s choice while his brother, Luca, had an RBI single for his lone hit.

“The kids showed a lot of heart and I was proud of them,” said Mandell. “It is easy when you are ahead by four but they dug in in that sixth inning when they got down.”

Lynnfield, coming out of the winners bracket, has two opportunities to win one game and capture the tournament title (opponent and results not available at press time).