Gonzalez off to strong start as Pioneers win three of first four

Published April 24, 2019

By DAN PAWLOWSKI

LYNN — It took almost six full innings for a pair of rivals to heat up during a chilly, pitcher’s duel of a season opener at Fraser Field in Lynn on April 11. 

The Pioneers jumped on the back of senior captain Fernando Gonzalez who combined a dominant complete game performance on the mound (7 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 12 K’s) with two hits and two RBI’s at the plate as Lynnfield beat North Reading 6-2.

“Fernando (Gonzalez) got stronger as the game went on and (Jaret) Simpson called a great game behind the plate,” said Lynnfield head coach John O’Brien. 

“Doe” also gets credit for driving home Lynnfield’s first run of the season, mashing a double to deep right-center in the top of the 1st inning and scoring fellow senior captain Matt Fiore from first base. 

THE PIONEERS celebrate their first run of the season at Fraser Field during their 6-2 win over North Reading April 11. A first inning Fernando Gonzalez double brought home Matt Fiore (10) who was greeted by teammates including Clayton Marengi (11) and Brian Cardarelli (3). (Dan Pawlowski Photo)

Except for a walk in the 2nd, Gonzalez sat down 14 Hornets in a row, leaving Fiore’s footprint on the plate unaltered until the bottom of the 6th inning when North Reading finally made some noise against Gonzalez. 

A lead off single from junior pitcher Joey Frammartino, who was spinning his own gem against the Pioneers, led to a wild bunt from Cole Doke who ended up at second base after a miscommunication in the field. 

Gonzalez got a timely strikeout for the first out of the inning but a low pitch in the dirt got by Simpson to tie the game 1-1. A sacrifice fly by Alex D’Ambrosio gave the Hornets a 2-1 lead after six.

So, facing a one-run loss in their opening game, the Pioneers went to work in the top of the 7th. Sal Marotta and Brian Cardarelli drew walks to start the inning, bringing up senior captain Jonathan Luders. Always willing to do whatever it takes to win, the Seton Hall baseball commit told O’Brien he’d bunt if he wanted him to. O’Brien gave him the nod and Luders put down a sacrifice to move both runners into scoring position, setting the table for junior John Singer. 

Singer’s at-bat against Frammartino was a battle as the Pioneer infielder ripped one just foul down the line. He shook that off and straightened out a frozen rope double, scoring both runs and reclaiming the lead, 3-2 for Lynnfield. 

After a pitching change and a walk to Fiore, Gonzalez picked up his second RBI on a single as Singer motored home from second for a 4-2 lead. 

“(John) Singer had a clutch base hit and great base running to score (on the Gonzalez single),” said O’Brien. 

O’Brien often preaches the importance of just getting the ball in play. Will Garofoli chopped one to second and an error brought home another run and after a Simpson walk, Clayton Marengi put in one play, creating a fielder’s choice and bringing home another to make it 6-2. 

“Anything can happen when you put the bat on the ball,” said O’Brien. 

Gonzalez went 1,2,3 in the bottom of the 7th to close it out and Lynnfield picked up a hard-earned, season-opening win. 

“I’m happy with the win I think we could have hit the ball a little better but first game of the year so, they battled and that kid (Frammartino) pitched a nice ball game,” said O’Brien. 

The Pioneers followed that up with two home games and nearly identical wins as they beat Triton 7-2 on April 16 and Newburyport 7-0 on April 18. If Gonzalez is only going to get better every game, it’s hard to imagine what he might accomplish come June. 

The southpaw was lights out in his second start of the season against the Clippers, allowing no hits in five innings of work. The Pioneer offense, led by three hits from Luders and another double from Gonzalez, this time for two RBI’s, scored seven runs by the 5th inning allowing Gonzalez to get some rest. 

Lynnfield lost a close road game to Pentucket on Friday, 4-3 and went back home on Tuesday to play Masco after press time. The Pioneers host Rockport on Thursday and travel to play Hamilton-Wenham on Saturday at 3 p.m.