Published in the July 19, 2017 edition
COOPER MARENGI makes a last minute decision on a pitch in the 4th inning with graduating senior bash brother Mike Stellato (left) watching from the dugout. Marengi had three RBIs and two phenomenal sliding catches in left field to lead the Pioneers to a 11-1 mercy-rule win over Lexington/Bedford. Stellato and Marengi had their own home run race during LHS baseball’s historic spring season. (Dan Pawlowski Photo)
LYNNFIELD — The Lynnfield Senior Babe Ruth team beat Lexington/Bedford, 11-1, on Monday night to bring their record to 6-8-1.
“Every game has been close,” said assistant coach Al Fiore as he described Lynnfield’s last game against Arlington, in which they lost 7-6 in extra innings to a familiar face. LHS head coach, John O’Brien, coaches Arlington during the summer and called for a suicide squeeze to walk-off against the Pioneers. Lynnfield head coach, Tony Federico, knew it was coming. After all he has watched his son, Michael, play for coach ‘OB’ long enough. He described that when executed to perfection as so many coach O’Brien plays, there is nothing the defense can do against a squeeze. It has just been that type of summer season for the Babe Ruth team.
Lynnfield made sure there was no 6th inning, let alone extra innings, on Monday night against Lexington/Bedford, as they finished the game by way of the mercy rule in the 5th inning.
WILL GAROFOLI shut down the Lexington/Bedford offense on Monday for the Lynnfield Senior Babe Ruth team. The Pioneers are 6-8-1 on the season. (Dan Pawlowski Photo)
Will Garofoli got the start for the Pioneers and pitched three excellent innings, allowing only one run.
Sal Marotta finished the final two innings for Lynnfield on the mound.
Lynnfield put this game out of reach early, scoring three runs in the 1st inning and four in the 2nd. Justin Juliano sent home Federico with an RBI single in the 1st, and then scored on a Mike Stellato double down the left field line. Cooper Marengi then followed that up with an opposite field poke that brought home Stellato.
The Pioneers were aggressive all game at the plate, as they continued to score runs at a rapid pace. Marengi picked up two more RBIs in the 2nd inning with a big double. Marengi, the soon-to-be senior outfielder for LHS, also provided two highlight-reel sliding catches in left field.
Lynnfield hosted the Arlington Pond Rats on Tuesday and Malden on Wednesday after press time. They host Belmont at LHS on Thursday at 5:30 p.m.
