Giants Nip Diamondbacks To Grab Major League Championship

With a solid combination of timely hitting and pinpoint accurate pitching, the Giants managed to capture this year’s World Series title.

The game caps the spring season for the Wayland Baseball and Softball Association.

Mattison Cronin and Sean Devlin allowed just two runs in four innings and Dylan Rader delivered a clutch bases clearing triple as the Giants coasted to an 8-4 win over the Diamondbacks in Friday night’s Major League (fifth and sixth graders) World Series Championship showdown at Cochitchuate Field.

As a result, the Giants finished the season with a 12-2-1 mark while the Diamondbacks, who finished as the runners-up, fell to 10-3-1.

“It was a great win and we were able to get some great pitching and some timely hitting,’’ said Giants’ coach John DiPietrantonio. “ We ran the bases very well and we were able to capitalize on our opportunities on the base paths. All season long, we’ve found ways to manufacture some runs and (Friday night) was just a microcosm of our entire season.”

Backed by a hit-by-pitch, the Diamondbacks grabbed the early 1-0 lead in the top of the first. With two out, Scott McCarthy reached on a hit-by-pitch before stealing second. After advancing to third on a wild pitch, McCarthy scored on Jack Donnelly’s RBI infield single.

On a pair of doubles and three errors, the Giants erupted for four runs in the bottom of the second. Jack Fletcher lined a double to left center before scoring on Cronin’s RBI double to left center. Lucas Fried followed, reaching on an errant throw that placed runners on the corners. On a dropped fly ball to center, Brendan Kiernan reached on a two-base error, scoring Fletcher and placing Fried and himself in scoring position. Another error on a routine grounder to second by Christian DiPietrantonio followed as two more unearned runs crossed the plate as the Giants grabbed a 4-1 lead.

“They (Giants), put the ball in play and we couldn’t make the plays on the field,’’ said Diamondbacks coach John Donnelly. “We played them four times this season, and we were two and two against them. It was a match-up of the two best teams in the league, and we came up just a little short. It came down to them making the key hits, and us making some unforced errors on the field.”

On a double and two errors, the Giants added a run, increasing the lead to 5-1 in the bottom of the third. Devlin laced a lead-off double to left before Jeff Prince reached on a fielding error, placing runners on the corners. Fletcher followed, reaching on a fielding error as Devlin trotted home from third for the four run Giants lead.

“We ran the bases very well, and we’ve been finding ways to score runs all season long,’’ said DiPietrantonio. “We’ve scored more runs than any other team in the league, and these kids have worked so hard all-season long and have played together as a group.”

Backed by a walk and a single, the Diamondbacks closed the gap to 5-2 in the top of the fourth. With one out, Jack Donnelly drew a walk, advanced to second on a passed ball and stole third before scoring on Seth Curtin’s RBI single to right.

Guided by three hits, the Giants emerged with a three run rally in the bottom of the fourth. With one out, Kiernan launched a triple to deep right before DiPietrantonio reached on an infield hit to the pitcher. A walk to Tyler Breint loaded the bases before Dylan Rader smacked a bases clearing triple that bounced off the center field fence, handing the Giants an 8-2 lead.

Down to their last at bat, the Diamondbacks rallied for two runs in the top of the sixth.

With Fletcher pitching, Peter Moore drew a walk before Nick Verdi lined an RBI double to left. After McCarthy grounded into a fielder’s choice short to first, Donnelly drew a walk before Matt Curran recorded an RBI fielder’s choice, scoring Verdi.

Fletcher would escape further harm, striking out Curtin to end the game and securing the Giant’s Major League Championship.

“We never gave up, and the kids fought to the last out,’’ said Donnelly. “It was a great game between the two top teams in the league, and in the end, the (Giants) came away with the win. It was a great season, and now it’s off to summer ball.”