RallyNorth.net

Wed, May 21, 2008 04:30 PM @ Salem (MA)

Team	Final
Beverly	6
Salem (MA)	8

Witches capture NEC Large title with season sweep over Beverly

Wednesday, May, 21 By Phil Stacey
Sports editor

SALEM | Of the tens of thousands of words that Mike Ward has spoken to his Salem High baseball team over the last two-and-a-half months, the four he chose to use following yesterday's Northeastern Conference Large title-clinching win over Beverly may have been the most meaningful of all.

"You guys deserve this," Ward told his assembled Witches.

Fifteen hits, some smart, aggressive baserunning and big pitches down the stretch enabled Salem to clinch the title no one figured they'd be in the hunt for when the season began.

It added up to an 8-6 victory over a gritty Beverly team, one that had the tying run at-bat when the game's final out was recorded.

"We weren't on the map at the beginning of the season," said Salem's outstanding junior catcher, T.J. Larivee, on how his team was viewed in NEC circles during the preseason. "But we knew what we had: some really good ballplayers and great team chemistry. That's what makes this such a great feeling."

The victory, their fifth straight and seventh in their last eight games, gave the Witches their third NEC title in the last four years, finishing with a 12-4 mark in the league. The previous two crowns (2005, 2006) came when Salem played in the NEC Small.

Eight of Salem's (13-6) nine hitters had at least one hit, with leadoff hitter Dan Reddy scoring three times and Ben Henderson and No. 9 hitter Beau Theriault scoring twice each.

"I'm so proud of this team's consistency," said Ward. "They show up every day ready to play, and they've played all of the good teams well | Beverly included."

Give the visiting Panthers (11-9) a lot of credit. Although they never had the lead in this one, they constantly scrapped their way back, never letting Salem feel comfortable at any point during the afternoon.

Trailing by four runs after four innings, Beverly battled back in the fifth behind Pete Kalas' two-run double to left-center and Sean Deady's RBI single, making it 6-5.

Even after Salem's Reddy blasted a two-run homer in the bottom half of the fifth | the first by a high school player to ever clear the fence at the New Salem State Baseball Field | the Panthers refused to quit. Freshman catcher Joe Wioncek led off the top of the sixth with a gap-shot triple and came home on Paul Drinkwater's sacrifice fly.

But Salem's Harry Noone, pitching in relief of starter Colby Boulay, got the last five Beverly hitters on strikeouts to extinguish the visitor's flame for good.

The Panthers, who had 10 hits, did all of this without three senior starters who were suspended for violating MIAA rules: Chris Freni, Jack Leathersich and Sam Cohen.

"I'm extremely proud of my guys for the way they battled right until the very last pitch," said head coach Dave Wilbur. "We kept fighting our way back, trying to jab them, but they always seemed to respond with a counterpunch. Still, our guys should hold their heads high after the way they played."

Larivee, who will likely be up against Danvers senior righty Bobby Dean when the NEC's Most Valuable Player is chosen tonight by the league coaches, agreed with Wilbur.

"What Beverly did today, considering the circumstances, was great," said the 17-year-old, who is already drawing interest from pro scouts and major colleges. He had three hits and three RBIs yesterday. "They came here ready to play and weren't (conceding) anything to us."

Reddy, who rocketed a first pitch shot off of Beverly reliever Zack Levine over the fence in left for a two-run homer, downplayed his shot | which turned out to be the eventual game-winning hit.

"I'm not a home run hitter; I'm definitely more of a contact guy," said the 18-year-old center fielder, who will continue his baseball career at Salem State next year. "I was just looking to hit the ball hard somewhere.

"When I hit it, I just put my head down and ran hard. Watching it clear that fence ... that was a great feeling."

Henderson, the Witches' second baseman, also had a big day with three hits and an RBI. Noone and Theriault also had two hits apiece.

For Beverly, senior left fielder Conor Walsh had a terrific outing with three hits and a run scored. Levine and freshman shortstop Andy Brown also knocked in runs.

"I've got a lot of Salem connections," said Wilbur, who teaches in the Witch City and was on the football staff there for many years, "and I really want to congratulate Michael (Ward). He's done a heck of a job with this team and program. I'm really happy for him."