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North Andover bows out

LYNN — The North Andover High baseball team had been here before.

No not Fraser Field in Lynn — this was the Knights first game here this spring — but in a game in which it got Grade A pitching, this time from Evan Glew, with some decent defense and very little offensive support.

They were also at the plate in the seventh inning, trailing 2-0 to Gloucester in the Div. 2 North Sectional semifinals, with two outs and the bases loaded — an infield single by Matt Iannone, a line drive to right by Stephen Borzi and a walk by pinch-hitter Chris Keane —  the first time they had actually electrified their side of the stands.

Several times this spring, the "underrated" Knights pulled it off, beating state-tourney bound Merrimack Valley Conference foes Methuen, Andover and Billerica in some thrillers. In fact, Austin Flinn's steal of home that eventually beat Haverhill High was another memorable one.

But on this day, with the powerful Gloucester team bringing in its ace, Peter Clark, for one batter, North Andover season ended on a called strike three.

"We honestly felt like we were going to win the game. Ware used to playing these kinds of games," said first baseman and quad-captain Collin Couillard. "I know a lot of people didn't expect much from us, but we became a good team. Nobody blew us out. And we beat some good teams."