Sports

Gem on the Little League Diamond

Jake McIntire, 12, gave up no hits and no walks over six innings pitching his Tigers to a 6-0 win over the Indians in the Swampscott Little League.

Excitement stirred at Duratti-Holmes-Cerone Field Wednesday over 12-year-old Jake McIntire's pitching.

Jake allowed no hits and no walks in a complete game victory over the Indians, 6-0.

The 12-year-old threw 66 pitches over 6 innings, striking out 13 of the 18 batters he faced.

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Coach Pete Inzana said Jake did a great job mixing and locating his fastball and knuckle-curve. 

The team did its best to back their pitcher in the field and keep quiet in the dugout about the unfolding drama.

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"And once, when one of our players did mention it, I just put my finger to my lips and he then knocked on wood," the coach said.

For his part, Jake, a seventh-grader at Swampscott Middle School, was mighty nervous in the last inning, his mom said.

Several times the count went to full, 3 balls and 2 strikes, but luckily the at-bats ended in strike outs.

The coach said that besides Jake's lights-out pitching, the perfect game wouldn't have happened without some outstanding fielding by the team. 

"Anthony Rakauskas and Russell Hopkins made a few great plays to preserve the perfect game," the coach said.

The opposing pitcher, another Jake, Jake Goldman, also pitched a fine complete game, the coach said.

At the plate, Jake McIntire went 2 for 3, with a singe and a triple and 2 runs scored, bringing his season batting average up to .488. 
His pitching record is now 5 - 1. 

His parents, Brad and Amy, are proud of their son's accomplishment.

Brad, who also coaches the Tigers, said Jake has worked very hard to be the best player and teammate that he can be. 

The teammates and coaches applauded the effort after the game.

"We all gave Jake a round of applause in the dugout and Pete gave him the game ball," said Brad McIntire.

Coaches Inzana and McIntire said they were told the last perfect game thrown in the Swampscott Little League was seven years ago, by Mike Walsh.

Jake's favorite pitcher is another Tiger, Detroit's Justin Verlander.


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