Austin Prep Cools Off Lynnfield To Win North Title

The key moment at Fraser Field Sunday in the Division 3 North baseball final might be debatable. It could have been the first inning home run by Austin Prep shortstop Logan Bravo, or even the Cougars three-run fifth inning, keyed by a two-run single by Patrick Burke.

But if anything set the tone in AP's 8-2 win over Lynnfield it was the pitching of sophomore starter Cameron Seguin in the third inning. With Austin Prep up 3-1, Lynnfield (21-3) put runners at second and third after an infield single, an error, and a sacrifice bunt. One swing away from a tie game, Lynnfield sent their two best hitters to the plate in shortstop Justin Juliano and third baseman Mike Stellato. But Seguin was up to the challenge on the 90-degree day in Lynn, striking out Juliano and getting Stellato to fly out to center.

Crisis averted, Austin Prep (20-4) scored two more runs in the fourth and it was 5-1 with the Cougars in control.

"Phenomenal," said Austin Prep coach Steve Busby about Seguin, who allowed two runs and three hits in five innings. "He's been a horse for us, especially the second half of the year. Just really, really huge innings, on three days rest. You couldn't ask more from a kid. He did phenomenal today."

Austin Prep's eight runs came off 10 hits. Every batter reached base at least once with Patrick Burke and Alex Martinez each with two hits and two runs scored. AP, which lost to Lynnfield in last year's semifinals, scored at least one run in each of the first five innings. For Lynnfield, the 2-5 hitters were a combined 0-for-11.

"They're a good team," said Busby. "The last three years we've played them and they've been great games. Last year was last year. This one is very sweet. It wasn't about revenge, it was about playing hard and playing our brand of baseball."