Swampscott 12-Year-Old Bay State Team Completes First Week

The following was written by Alexander Nevaminhe and submitted by Jeff Rubin.

The Swampscott 12 Year-old Bay State baseball team continued their hot start as they completed the first week of games, going 3-1 in games against Melrose, Medford and two games against Acton over the weekend.  

After their previously reported opening game win against Melrose, Swampscott faced off against Medford at home. 

Thursday, 7/21 against Medford   A tight 1-1 game early on with good pitching from Swampscott’s Dan Muller, Medford was able to jump out to a 3-1 lead in the second half of the game.  In the bottom of the 5th Stephen Hopkins, Louis Olivieri & Max Emmerich led off the inning by loading the bases with a single, a walk and a single respectively.  Swampscott then proceeded to put up 5 runs behind hits from Jack Morretti, & Kevin Lombard, a fielder’s choice by A.J. Venuti and a double from Peter Battinelli.  Leading 6-3 with two outs and one on in the top of the 6th, Medford rallied for 4 runs to go up 7-6 and Swampscott went down in the bottom of the 6th in order and notched their first loss. 

“It was a tough loss.”  Said Swampscott Manager, Rob Hopkins “in the long run though, it might turn out to be a good thing as the boys learned the simple lesson that the game isn’t over, until it’s over.  I was very proud of the way we rallied for 5 runs in the 5th when we were down 3-1.  Unfortunately, we just couldn’t get the last nail in the coffin in the sixth inning and we allowed Medford back in the game.”

Saturday, 7/23 against Acton  In the first of two weekend games versus Acton, The Swampscott bats were relatively quiet, being one-hit by a tandem of Acton pitchers.  However, Swampscott pitcher A.J. Venuti was one better- throwing a complete game, 3-hit shutout over Acton in searing 95 degree heat.  Venuti also notched Swampscott’s only hit- a double down the left field line, and scored Swampscott’s only run in the

1-0 Swampscott victory.  Swampscott catchers Ryan Donnelly, Liam Faulkner, Owen Madigan-Fried and Dan Muller combined to catch an excellent game.  Michael Johnson flashed the leather at first base, playing excellent defense as well. 

“A.J.’s performance was herculean as far as I’m concerned.”  Commented Hopkins, “On a day like this, it’s 95 degrees in the shade and he goes out and throws six innings in the blazing sun and strikes out nine batters.  Our catchers received an excellent game- given the heat, I decided to let four boys split the duties to keep each one fresh.  We also played pretty flawless defense for the other 9 outs, so my hat goes off to the entire team.”  

Sunday, 7/24 against Acton In the second game in two days against Acton, the Swampscott bats wasted no time in attacking the Acton pitching- jumping on the Acton starter for 5 runs in the first inning and batting around the order led by hits from Ryan Donnelly, Jack Morretti, Liam Faulkner, A.J. Venuti & Kevin Lombard.  Acton responded with 4 runs in the bottom half of the first on a Grand Slam, but that was the end of the Acton offense for the day as Swampscott starter Jack Morretti settled in, throwing a total of three innings.  Swampscott responded in the top of the second with a two-run bomb over the right-center fence launched by first baseman Liam Faulkner, putting Swampscott up 7-4.  In the bottom of the third, the Swampscott bats exploded for seven more runs- highlighted by a 3-run homerun by Owen Madigan-Fried. 

With the score 14-4 and the 10 run “Mercy Rule” now in play after four innings, Swampscott brought in their ace- Dan Muller to shut down Acton and close the game.  Muller responded with a ground out and two strikeouts looking to end the game as his curveball appeared to be falling off a table.  Swampscott wins in four innings, 14-4. 

 “Liam hit a ball that I think is still going,” Offered Hopkins, “and Owen’s homerun got out pretty quick too.  As a team, we jumped all over their pitchers.  I think the boys were a little miffed about being one-hit the day before by this team and wanted to let their bats do the talking today- and they did.” 
 

Swampscott continues their season with a game on Tuesday, 7/26 in Medford, then on Thursday, 7/28 at home against Melrose and hopefully qualifies for Trophy Weekend this weekend in Cambridge.  Round III runs from the beginning through the middle of August.  

Other players on the Swampscott Bay State Division A Tournament team include: Josh Allen, Adam Dishman & Caleb Mazow.