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Calzettta, Lancers gut it out over Methuen

Saturday, May, 24 By Hector Longo
Staff writer

A stiff wind blowing straight out, a potent lineup in the other dugout, and his usual pin-point control a no-show.

It didn't look promising.

All Lawrence High sophomore Michael Calzetta could do was buckle up, hold on and hope his teammates had their hacking shoes on.

"Sometimes, you just have to go out there and fight, and it's not that pretty," said Calzetta after going the distance in a 10-7 win last night over Methuen in the opening round of the 27th Lawrence Invitational Baseball Tournament.

"Thankfully, my teammates were there to pick me up."

Lawrence (10-8) qualified for the postseason with the win | its first playoff berth since 2004. Tonight at 7 the Lancers host Andover in the second of two semifinals here at the South Lawrence East School Field. In the 4 p.m. game, it will be North Andover facing off with Tewksbury.

The Lancers bounced out of the gate with five runs in the first and hardly looked back. The advantage grew to 10-4 before the Rangers made things interesting with a seventh-inning rally.

Calzetta was just tough enough, improving to 5-1 with the 11-hitter, walking four and striking out three.

"I had to rely on my changeup, and just tried to hit the outside corner with my fastball," said Calzetta. "All I can say is that it will feel great to wake up tomorrow knowing we'll be playing for something in this tournament."

Another sophomore, Jose Sandoval, blasted a two-run homer in the sixth that proved to be huge. The third baseman scored three times, adding a single and a walk while taking a pitch off the backside for another base.

Fireplug Ruben Sosa was a pest all night, with a single, double, two walks, four steals and three runs. Harvey Blanco and Jose Paulino each drove in a pair.

"Get your 10 (wins) and then anything can happen. It's been a goal for us all year," said coach Brendan Neilon, after a dousing with the celebratory ice-water bucket. "We're just looking to get some big-game experience for our young guys, breathe some state tourney life into this program."

Methuen, now 7-13, saw its state tourney hopes dashed in defeat. The Rangers needed to win all three games in the tourney to make the state tournament.

Jimmy Cote led the assault with three hits, while David Koerner and Jhiomar Veras roped two hits apiece.

All three drove in single runs, while pinch-hitter Eric Eldred delivered a two-run single in the seventh.

Kenny Polanco drew the start and took the loss for the Rangers, unable to survive the first. Sophomore Chuck Prescott came on in relief and battled through the final six-plus innings, helping keep his club within striking range.