13-year-olds Finish Strong With Win Over Lowell

After a rough start, Marblehead's 13-year-old summer baseball team finished its Suburban Pony League season in strong fashion, winning five of its last eight games, including two of three in its final weekend of play. 

After a 15-6 domination of Methuen on Friday night. Marblehead traveled to steamy Billerica for a 3 p.m. Saturday tilt.

After jumping out to a 1-0 lead on catcher David Bolognese's hit, Marblehead gave up the lead in the middle innings and eventually fell by an 11-5 score.  Bolognese hit well for the Headers as did outfielder Jacob Sundlie, who blasted a long double and first baseman Ben Ryan, who belted a long, looping, bases-clearing triple with two men on. Harrison Engstrom played well defensively for Manager Dan Brothers' nine.

The next day, the season finale saw Marblehead hosting Lowell at Seaside Park.  In a game that was strikingly familiar to the Methuen contest, Marblehead took an early 6-0 lead, but by the fourth inning, Lowell had clawed back and tied the game at six.

But when Lowell got even, Marblehead got mad.

Lead-off hitter Trey Blackmer drew a lead-off walk in the home fifth. The speedy Blackmer bolted to second on ball four when the wild pitch went all the way to the backstop. Two pitches later, the hot-hitting Bolognese (three safeties vs. Lowell) ripped a hard single to the gap in right, plating Blackmer. Bolognese later scored on a passed ball after stealing second and advancing on a passed ball. Ben Ryan did the same after walking and advancing on passed balls.

After six innings, the Headers led 11-7, which is how it ended. Bolognese picked up the win on the hill after two innings of solid work in relief of Christian Rudloff and Eli Smith, who both pitched well. Defensive standouts for Marblehead in the Lowell win were second baseman Tyler Smith, outfielders Joe Howard and Justin Hurley and shortstop Blackmer.

Marblehead finished its season with a record of 5-12.

Brothers praised his team's efforts, particularly in the second half of the season.  

"These guys never quit. They got better as the season progressed and that is evidenced by the fact that the team won five of its last eight. The turnaround from our opener was pretty dramatic.  I am proud of the entire team," he said.

Team members included: Trey Blackmer, David Bolognese, Teddy Camp, Justin Hurley, Harrison Engstrom, Angelo Massaro,  Cam Mitchell, Dan Peters, Christian Rudloff, Ben Ryan, Cian Saunders, Eli Smith, Tyler Smith, Jake Stead, Jacob Sundlie. Alternates included Sawyer Billings, John Cavolina, Matt Crawford and Michael DiGiammarino.

In addition to Brothers, the coaching staff included Dave Bolognese, Clayton Stead, Joel Blackmer, Tom Engstrom and Tim Hurley.