Senior Ruth Comes Back to Earth

Coming off an offensive outburst against the Malden Marlins on Wednesday, the Belmont Senior Babe Ruth team only got two hits  in a 6-1 loss to Everett Friday at Brendan Grant Memorial Field.

Left fielder Anthony Perro scorched a ball past Everett's third baseman, Dylan DaSilva, in the fifth inning, and starting pitcher Evan Nichols got an infield single in the seventh for Belmont's only two hits off Everett's Chris DiNapoli.

"It's discouraging," coach Dan Kelleher said of his young team, "but, you know what, they're playing, they're getting to see pretty good competition. I think I just have to convince them that they're singles hitters."

DiNapoli, a rising junior at Everett High School, struck out 10 in the win. First baseman Michael MacDonald drew a walk in the second inning, and Nichols reached on an error to lead-off the fifth for Belmont's only other base runners.

After Nichols reached, Perro singled with one out to put runners on first and second. Next up, third baseman Matt Paolillo struck out, but Everett catcher Buck McCarthy tried to pick-off Perro at first and sent the ball to right field, allowing Nichols to score to make it 4-1.

McCarthy made up for his error in the seventh inning, blasting a two-run homer to left-center off Belmont reliever Ross Hall to make the final 6-1.

Nichols, a tall right-hander, struggled with his control, walking six and hitting a batter in five innings of work. He gave up one run in the third inning off a walk, a stolen base and a hit, and another in the fourth off a balk. Both runners who scored reached on lead-off walks.

In the fifth inning, McCarthy hit a two-run double. The catcher reached base three times to go along with his four RBI.

In its previous game, on Wednesday, Belmont (1-3) beat the Malden Marlins 9-4 for the team's first win.

Christian Raymond pitched a complete game for Belmont in the win and had two RBI in the pivotal sixth inning, where Belmont scored six runs to take a 9-1 lead.

Teammate Michael Vona also had two RBI in the sixth.

Belmont will travel to face Everett (4-1-1) again on Monday at 5:45 p.m.