RallyNorth.net

Lawrence stumbles in Hillie Classic

Friday, May, 24 By Jeff Hamrick

HAVERHILL – With a chance to play a couple tough Merrimack Valley Conference opponents, defending Division 1 Central champ Wachusett Regional came east this weekend looking for a chance to bolster its resume for regionals.

The Mountaineers provided themselves with that opportunity after a 2-1 victory over Lawrence in Friday’s opening round of the Hillie Classic. Wachusett (14-5) will square off with North Andover in today’s 6 p.m. Karelis Division title match.

“We get another (quality opponent on Saturday,” Wachusett coach Mark Peters said. “That’s why we’re glad we’re in this tournament. It gets us ready for the tournament after (this one). We’ve been in 10 one-run games. We’ve been fortunate, but now it’s about coming back tomorrow and playing well tomorrow at 6.”

Facing Wachusett starter and Boston College commit Barry Walsh, Lawrence (10-8) took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first. Lead-off hitter Kebler Peralta drew a walk and found himself at third after a Juan Medina single and Henry Checo walk. Peralta scored on a Christian Varona double-play grounder.

The Mountaineers also turned a double play to end the second when an Inocencio Cuevas line out also nabbed Luis Mejia, who had singled.

The Lawrence defense held Wachusett in check despite seven base runners over the first four innings. Center fielder Luis Colon made a diving catch for the second out in the first before third basemen Luis Mejia ended the frame with a running over-the-shoulder catch of a foul ball.

Shortstop Peralta ended the second with a diving catch to his left of a line drive before making the put out to double up the runner at second.

But Wachusett managed to tie the game in the fifth without benefit of a hit when Mike Maher drew a lead-off walk and scored on a wild pitch. A two-out Melke Shabo single in the sixth provided the Mountaineers with the winning run and the game’s only RBI.

“This makes us better,” Peters said. “This game made us better today, because that’s a very good Lawrence team. I tip my hat to them. I like the way they play, and this was a grind out win.

“Both pitchers battled. I tell kids all the time in these times of games when the teams are good, it’s all about the two-out hit, making the pitch and making the play in the field. That makes all the difference in the world.”

Lawrence starter Juan Medina threw 131 pitches in going the distance. He allowed four hits while walking seven and striking out eight. The Lancers hurt themselves on the base paths with runners caught trying to steal third and second in the sixth and in the field with six errors.

“We made a couple little base running blunders,” Lawrence coach Kevin Fielding said. “Other than that, both pitchers pitched great. Juan Medina pitched great. We have to get him a couple runs to help him.”

Medina and Mejia both singled and doubled for Lawrence’s four hits. The Lancers will send Josias Mendeaz to the mound against Nashoba Regional in today’s 12:30 p.m. Karelis Division consolation contest

“We have two games left, so we’re trying to get a better seed,” Fielding said. “We’re trying to get a couple more wins and try to sneak a home game (in the North regionals), whatever. The goal is to try and win out.”