Peabody West 12's Cap Perfect Season With Title

Things were looking good for Peabody National heading into the bottom of the sixth Friday night: Patrick Conway banged his first homer of the season with Ben Cohen aboard, putting the Nationals up 5-1 and only needing three outs to win the title.

The Peabody West and Peabody National Little League teams were meeting to determine the champion of the annual 12-year-old Jimmy Fund Baseball Tournament.

“I told the kids we could do it. We trailed Swampscott late and exploded; I told the boys I was confident that they could do it again,” Peabody West manager Pete Mastromatteo said after the game.

The Peabody West boys made their coach look like a fortuneteller, ripping off five runs to win the title, 6-5, when Andrew Dewsnap raced home on a Jimmy Dorgan single with two outs in the bottom of the sixth.

Things started out great for Peabody West (8-0): Danny Mastromatteo was cruising through the first three innings with a no-hitter, nine up, nine down, including five strikeouts. Peabody West was up 1-0 after three full after Cam Curley came home on a Cameron Cordaro single to center with one out in the bottom of the third. Curley, who went three-for-three on the game, was on second with one out after his second double of the night off Peabody National starter Dylan DeFillippo.

But then Peabody National got down to business in the top of the fourth, scoring twice and sending eight batters to the plate. Ben Cohen walked and went to third on an infield hit by Patrick Conway — Cohen coming across on a groundout by Drew Gagnon, Conway scoring the second Peabody National run on a passed ball.

DeFillippo was battling Danny Mastromatteo in a tug of war on the mound, both pitchers getting it done inning after inning, but Peabody National was able to finally chip away at Mastromatteo, the starter being lifted at the end of four full.

With Curley on the mound to start the fifth in relief of Mastromatteo, Lyndon Pare doubled with two outs in the top of the fifth and he came home for the third Peabody National run after a stolen base and a throwing error by Peabody West.

The visitors upped their lead to 5-1 with one out in the top of the sixth, much to the delight of the Peabody National fans at Lt. Ross Field. Cohen lined a double over second base, and trotted home when Conway crushed a Curley fastball over the center field fence for a four-run lead with three outs to go.

“I told the kids to relax and play good baseball heading into the bottom of the sixth,” Peabody National manager Eric Letson said. “I’m proud of our guys, I’m proud of Peabody West; this was a really great baseball game by both teams.”

The winning rally started with a single to center by Curley. Cordaro moved him to third with an infield single and Cordaro moved up with a steal of second, two runners on, and Peabody West was rocking. Relief pitcher Landan Pare whiffed Tommy Kimber, but Mastromatteo blooped a single into short left that plated two. Kodi Cutliffe drove in Mastromatteo with a single to deep short to make it 5-4 with one out.

Cutliffe came home on an infield error to tie the game, but Peabody National’s William DeMayo made a great play to erase Joey Oliveri trying to score and it was up to Jimmy Dorgan with two on and two outs in the bottom of the sixth, the championship game tied at five.

Dorgan delivered, punching a base hit through the infield allowing Dewsnap to score the winner.

“Lot of drama at the end, but these guys don’t quit,” Pete Mastromatteo said. “We practice hard, we play hard, and this is the result; I’m very proud of everyone associated with this team.”

“We battled, I knew our kids would be ready,” Letson said. "We had a good season, I enjoyed being with these boys and I really want to thank my assistant coaches (Mike DeMayo, Wayne DeStefano, Anthony Farese and Jon Gagnon) for their help this summer.”

Peabody West had knocked off Peabody National (5-4) earlier in the season 10-0, on its way to a perfect regular season record.

“We played a good game, I’m so happy for Patrick (Conway). Our guys played great, we just couldn’t close it out,” Letson said.

Friday night’s game was a make-up after Monday night’s title game was rained out. When Peabody National went ahead 2-1 in the top of the fourth, it was only the third time all season that Peabody West was behind. Peabody West fell behind Saugus American and Swampscott before rallying to win those games.

Manager Pete Mastromatteo was joined on the Peabody West bench by coaches Bobby Sacramone and Jimmy Dorgan.