13-Year-Olds Show Improvement Despite Record

Marblehead's Babe Ruth League Baseball team in the 13-year-old division fell at the hands of the Lynnfield squad on Tuesday night at Seaside Park by a final score of 12-0. Lynnfield was paced by pitcher Justin Foley, who struck out eight of the 19 batters he faced in the shutout performance.

The contest was ended two innings shy of regulation because of Lynnfield's double-digit lead through the fifth inning. With the victory, Lynnfield snapped a three-game losing streak and improved to 10-5 on the season.

Following the game, Marblehead coach Dan Brothers spoke about the growth he has seen in the young players transitioning to the larger field used in the 13-year-old-division.

 "These kids are in their first year on this big diamond where there are different rules and dimensions, and they only had about 16 games of town ball to really learn them," said Brothers. "This is really a developmental league, and there were plays made out here today that never would have been made three weeks ago, so that to me is a step in the right direction."

Catcher Trey Blackmer exhibited strong fundamentals in the field. Blackmer's defensive prowess behind the plate in the early innings protected against several near passed-balls that would have cost his team valuable runs.

Paul White, an assistant coach for Lynnfield, praised the Marblehead coaching staff and the instruction they provide for the players.

"That team has come a long way since the start of the season," he said, "[Blackmer] has done a terrific job keeping the ball in front of him tonight, which is indicative of the great coaching on that team."

Lynnfield is expected to make the playoffs and compete for a district championship.

"We had lost three in a row because of our defense, but we played cleanly today and that's why we won," said Lynnfield coach Peter Montesanto. "Fundamentals are the most important thing at this level, and I always stress to them to keep moving their feet. We've worked on that a lot lately."

While not mathematically eliminated from playoff contention, Marblehead now appears to be a long shot for the eighth and final seed in the district tournament -- just don't expect to see disappointment on the face of Coach Brothers.

"The kids always have smiles on their faces, and the most important thing to me is that we have a group of classy sportsman on this team. You stay proud of the kids and just hope at the end of the day you took them one step further than they were before"