RallyNorth.net

Thu, May 22, 2008 04:00 PM @ St. John's

Team	Final
Arlington	4
St. John's	5

Late seventh inning surge saves St. John's Prep

Thursday, May, 22 By Bill Kipouras
Staff writer

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.

He had just delivered the game-tying run in the bottom of the seventh and final inning yesterday, carrying the Eagles to a dramatic 5-4 victory over Arlington yesterday in what possibly was the last baseball game played on Gibbons Field.

The schol that was just named by Sports Illustrated to have the best athletic program in the state will start a $5 million project June 10, relocating the baseball field further back on campus. Three new turf fields will be laid down. With tree clearance and leveling, the project will be home to baseball, lacrosse, rugby and soccer, and even serve as a possible practice site for football. All the details have not been announced.

The U.S. flag that will hang on the new primises is already attached to the backstop, a gift from current Eagles' players and their parents.

"This was an exciting day. Unbelievable," Manzi said. "Our moms were here and got flowers on Senior Day. We beat a solid pitcher (Holy Cross-bound Pat Doherty).

"There was history. If we don't get a home game (in the tournament) this was our last game, and it felt great. I was glad to step up," the Roger Williams-bound senior said..

Pat Yanchus had no idea when asked how old Gibbons Field was.

"Probably as old as the school," Yanchus said. "I've tried to research it. It's been Gibbons Field since the early 1990s, named after a Danvers kid who had been the team manager in football and baseball and died in an accident en route to a football game."

If this indeed was the grand finale there, the seniors went out memorable style.

That Manzi was at-bat in such a critical situation was fine with Yanchus; Manzi had struck only once once all season.

Derek Coppola was another late game hero, as were Chris Welch and Mike Yastrzemski, all of whom had a role in the sizzling seventh.

Welch had a one-out double and pinch runner Peter Neal came around to score on Coppola's single, cutting the visitors' lead to 4-3. Coppola then stole second base and moved to third on Kyle Pettoruto's infield groundout.

Yastrzemski was passed intentionally walked, putting the winning run on base. Manzi's clutch single to right plated Coppola to make it 4-4, and advanced Yastrzemski to third.

In what looked like a delayed steal (but wasn't), Manzi swiped second base, drawing a short throw. Yastrzemski broke for home and scored on a high relay that got away from the Spy Ponders' catcher. Next was a lot of delirium at home plate.

"Any of  top three  guys, Yaz and Haugh as well, would have been ideal in that situation, too," said Yanchus, "but Manzi has been our top hitter, over .400, most of season. He was confident."

Manzi, now  at .386, said he had failed once before this spring in a late game situation and wasn't about to fail again.