Published in the June 7, 2017 edition
SENIOR CAPTAIN Nicholas Aslanian pitched a complete game shutout during the third seeded Pioneers’ 8-0 victory over Saugus in the first round of the Division 3 North state tournament June 4. He finished with seven strikeouts and gave up two hits. (Dan Pawlowski Photo)
By DAN PAWLOWSKI
LYNNFIELD – Sometimes the excitement of postseason baseball can make you forget something very critical: It is just baseball. The first round of a single elimination tournament can often test a team’s nerves just as much as a championship game. Especially if teams had the kind of season the third-seeded Lynnfield Pioneers had.
Lynnfield finished the regular season at 18-2. Their 15-1 Cape Ann League record was the best league record in school history. When the Pioneers opened up the Division 3 North state tournament against 19th seeded Saugus June 4 at Lynnfield High School, you wouldn’t blame them if the burden of expectations affected their play. That’s when it’s nice to have a senior captain on the mound.
Senior captain Nicholas Aslanian pitched a complete-game shutout for the Pioneers, striking out seven and surrendering only two hits as Lynnfield defeated Saugus 8-0.
SOPHOMORE Jonathan Luders (9) connects on a two-RBI double in the fifth inning during the third seeded Pioneers’ 8-0 victory over Saugus in the first round of the Division 3 North state tournament June 4. (Dan Pawlowski Photo)
“Nick did a fantastic job,” said head coach John O’Brien. “He started off really well.”
Aslanian struck out the first three batters he faced, which quickly eased any pre-game jitters.
Senior Andre Padovani got the Pioneers on the board in the second inning with a sacrifice fly, scoring senior Michael Federico. It was a close play at the plate, but Federico’s crafty wrap-around slide beat the tag and put Lynnfield up 1-0.
The Pioneers would add to that lead in the third inning, as Federico’s infield single scored senior captain Mike Stellato from third base. Lynnfield took a 3-0 lead later in the inning as Federico got caught in a rundown between first and second base with two outs. It was a classic pickle that would have made Hamilton Porter from The Sandlot proud. During the mayhem, senior captain Bryant Dana took the chance to break from third and touch home plate as Federico ran his way out of trouble and got to second safely.
Aslanian and the defense continued to shut down any opportunities, as senior captain Justin Juliano was especially magnificent at shortstop, making tough ground balls look routine. Sophomore Jonathan Luders made the play of the day in the third inning, running down a ball in right field and sprawling to make a catch that would earn a nod from Mookie Betts.
“Juliano played fantastic at shortstop, and that awesome catch from Luders was huge,” said O’Brien. “Dana had another great game behind the dish too.”
Lynnfield stayed aggressive offensively, adding two more runs in the fifth inning after a two-RBI double from Luders.
In the sixth, Stellato, fresh off competing in the Jimmy Fund’s Fenway Fantasy Day home run derby on June 3, was walked for the third time in the game. Senior Tom Powers came in as a pinch runner and would later score on a passed ball after Dana’s double pushed him to third.
Inside-the-park homer
Junior Cooper Marengi then put the finishing strokes on Lynnfield’s vibrant first round masterpiece, crushing a ball down the right field line. Marengi chugged for third base and scored after an errant throw, which enabled him to get his fifth home run of the season and first inside-the-park homer of the year.
This game had all the elements the 2017 Pioneers continue to showcase every game: Dominant pitching, stellar defense and prompt hits.
“I’m very happy for the kids,” said O’Brien. “They’ve worked hard. We had a great week of practice and today it showed.”
It was an important step for a season-long quest that continued the very next day against Shawsheen Tech, and while the competition only gets tougher as the tournament goes along, these Pioneers earned the right to learn a valuable lesson in the first round: It’s just baseball.
