RallyNorth.net

For openers, Prep's Carmain shuts down Methuen again

Thursday, April, 02 By Hector Longo
Staff writer

DANVERS - Hard to figure which impressed more on yesterday, the St. John's Prep baseball team or its dazzling new home turf, the Brother Linus Commons.

The Eagles breezed in their home debut, announcing themselves as an Eastern Mass. juggernaut by pounding Methuen, 17-1.

Prep senior Chris Carmain, a Methuen resident bound to play at Northeastern in the fall, earned the win with four shutout frames, his second straight opening-day win over the Rangers.

"I just felt great to get out here," said Carmain, who gave up only two hits and a walk, striking out three. "We hit the ball hard and took care of what we had to."

Carmain represented the second half of a back-to-back homer christening for the new artificial diamond, as part of a four-run second.

Andover's Mike Yastrzemski gave the handful of pro scouts watching his every move, blasting a two-run missile with one out in the frame. Three pitches later Carmain cleared the portable fence to push the early advantage to 7-0.

"That's just a real good team," said Ranger coach Dave Fabrizio after watching the Prep bust things open with 10 runs in the third. "We've got some work to do. I was pretty happy with some of the efforts from the younger guys. Now we need some of the veterans to step up."

North Andover's Dan Eisenberg replaced Carmain on the hill after four. The right-hander allowed an Isaac Rivera double in the sixth to score Kevin Miller, who had singled, but that was it. Eisenberg struck out three and walked nobody.

Ranger junior Pat Lucey had both hits off of Carmain.

Cal Carroll, Methuen's fourth pitcher of the afternoon, got some excellent work in with three scoreless innings of relief.