RallyNorth.net

BEVERLY — This is what happens on baseball fields in June. You run into pitchers like Lowell High’s Henry Funaro.

Down some arms due to injury, Andover's Tim Kalantzakos took to the mound for his first start of the year and shut out Lowell 5-0 with eight strikeouts. He also went 1 for 1 at the plate and drove in two runs to help his cause.

Anthony Sapienza pitched a 5-hitter with six strikeouts and one walk and Mitch McQuate drove in three runs at North Andover blanked Lowell, 6-0.

LOWELL — Sam Lara came in and did the job in the sixth and seventh innings as Central Catholic pulled out a key win at Lowell.

Winning pitcher Steve Hajjar (5 innings, 5 hits, 2 earned runs, 9 K's, 2 walks) gave up a lead-off homer then a triple in the fifth. Lara came on with back to back strikeouts then induced an inning-ending ground out.

Owen Foote had two doubles, a triple and drove in a run for Methuen, which rolled over Lowell 6-1.

Sam Lara struck out nine and did not walk a batter in a complete-game effort to improve to 2-0 on the season a Central Catholic held off Lowell 3-2.