ITEM PHOTO BY KATIE MORRISON
Middleton-Peabody second baseman Jack Connors fires a throw to first base.
By MIKE ALONGI
BOXFORD — The Middleton-Peabody Post 153 American Legion baseball team got a walk-off single from Elias Varinos in the bottom of the seventh to beat Swampscott-Marblehead, 3-2, to capture the District 8 championship at Masconomet High School on Wednesday.
“It feels great,” said Middleton-Peabody coach John Kowalski. “The guys set this goal earlier this year, so it’s great to achieve it. Now we have a new goal to set, and that’s win a state title.”
Nick Pulieo got the win for Middleton-Peabody after pitching one inning of relief for starter Nick Colucci. Both pitchers threw strikes the whole way.
“Certainly a great performance by Colucci on three days rest,” said Kowalski. “It started there, and we needed it since we didn’t hit the ball too well early. But we got the timely hitting when we needed it and that’s what counts.”
It was a tough way to end the season for Swampscott-Marblehead, which had played 11 games over the previous 10 days.
“These kids were so resilient, and it’s been an amazing run,” said Swampscott-Marblehead coach Shawn Hubauer. “They put Swampscott-Marblehead Legion back on the map, that’s for sure.”
Swampscott-Marblehead struck first in the top of the second inning. After a series of fielder’s choices placed runners on first and third with two outs, Sean Lahrizi stepped in and laced a RBI double down the rightfield line to make it 1-0. It also placed runners on second and third for the top of the order, but Colucci struck out the next batter to escape the jam.
Swampscott-Marblehead was able to tack on another run in the third inning. With runners on first and second with one out, Corey Bleau hit a little dribbler in front of the plate. Colucci ran up to field the ball and make the throw to first, but it sailed wide and out of play. All runners advanced one base, bringing in another run for Swampscott-Marblehead.
Middleton-Peabody got one back in the bottom of the fourth after loading up the bases with one out. With the bags full, Dan O’Leary smashed a deep fly ball to center. Although it was caught, it was deep enough to bring in the runner from third base to make it 2-1.
The score remained there until the bottom of the sixth. Middleton-Peabody loaded up the bases with one out for O’Leary, and he came through again. This time, he hit a high fly ball to left field that was just deep enough to bring in the runner from third to tie the game at 2-2.
Middleton-Peabody brought in reliever Pulieo for the top of the seventh, and he sent Swampscott-Marblehead down in order to get his team back up to bat.
In the bottom of the seventh, Jake Zeuli reached on an error to lead off. Jack Connors followed with a perfectly executed sacrifice bunt to get the runner to second, then a passed ball moved Zeuli to third. Next up was the leadoff hitter Varinos, who ripped the game-winning single past third base to seal the title.
Middleton-Peabody will now move on to the state tournament, where it will go up against seven of the best teams in Massachusetts for a shot at the state title. The first stop is Norwood on Saturday at noon.
“I honestly haven’t focused too much on who else will be in the tournament with us,” said Kowalski. “But you can be sure I’ll find out when I get home tonight.”