RallyNorth.net

WESTFORD |  Westford Academy senior Andrew Moynihan was red faced after a physically and mentally draining Division 1 North Tournament game here Sunday afternoon.

"This was a hard-fought game," said Moynihan, who waited three years to crack the Grey Ghosts lineup. "I think it's the hardest fought game we've had all season."

St. John's Prep is a No. 16 seed in the Division 1 North Tournament, but it doesn't perform like a No. 16 seed.

The Eagles got off to a rip-roaring tourney start yesterday, drubbing Cambridge, 12-0, as Jordan Edgett and reliever Chris Carmain combined for the shutout and Trevor Manzi triggered the offense with a double, home run and five RBI.

DANVERS | Trevor Manzi said he loved the pressure situation with two out, the game on the line, and St. John's Prep playing a game of historical significance.

"I have trust in all my teammates | but I have the most trust in myself," the senior from Beverly responded.

At one time the St. John's Prep baseball team may have looked iffy as a tournament qualifier when it had records of 6-5 and 7-6. It had opened the season 6-1.

The Eagles, spurred on by Jordan Edgett's five-hit pitching over six innings, earned a ticket to the postseason playoffs for the 13th straight year by overpowering highly-ranked Hopkinton, 9-3.

Word about the demise of St. John's Prep seems to have been greatly exaggerated. The Eagles looked like they were in trouble after losing five out of six at the end of April, and at 7-6 a state tournament berth was anything but guaranteed.

UNH-bound senior Peter Neal stole home in the bottom of the seventh to lift the Eagles (8-6) to a dramatic, crucial victory over St. Peter's Marian 3-2. The speedy Neal pinch ran for Kyle Pettoruto, who hit a two-out double, and stole third before beating the tag at the plate. He also threw a runner out at the plate from leftfield and made a diving catch to save runs in the top of the seventh.

The Eagles outlasted St. Peter's Marian lefty ace Keith Landers, who is slated to pitch at Louisville next year, thanks in part to an RBI single from Trevor Manzi and Danny Haugh, who scored on a wild pitch. Chris Carmain went the distance on the hill, striking out eight while allowing six hits and two runs, one of which was earned.

DANVERS | There may still be four weeks remaining in the regular season, but for the St. John's Prep baseball team it's crunch time starting now.

The Eagles lost their fourth straight game yesterday, dropping a 5-4 setback to Catholic Conference rival B.C. High at Gibbons Memorial Field. The Prep has been outscored, 28-14, during this four-game skid and finds itself 6-5 on the season, including just 1-3 in league play.

The Eagles (6-4) lost their third straight as unbeaten Hopkinton's offense couldn't be quelled in a 13-7 setback. Chris Carmain clubbed two doubles and drove in three runs to help the Prep draw within striking distance at 8-4, but the hosts answered back and put it out of reach. Also recording RBI for the Prep were Mike Yastrzemski, Greg Donahue and Andrew Gordon.

Each time the St. John's Prep baseball team thought it had host Arlington down and out Saturday, the Spy Ponders struck back. On three seperate occasions in the fourth, fifth and seventh innings, Arlington tied the game mere minutes after the Prep had gone on top.

The Eagles (3-1) plated eight runs in the seventh inning to break open what had been a tight game and win 14-3.

Though the Prep led 4-3 after one inning, Metheun was gathering steam. Senior Matt Warden came on to pitch the game's final five innings and allowed only one baserunner with five strikeouts in a difference-making performance.