ITEM PHOTO BY KATIE MORRISON
Bobby Alcock was strong on the mound but Weston took the win.
By KATIE MORRISON
LYNN — The baseball season at St. Mary’s came to an abrupt end Thursday at Fraser Field thanks to a 3-2 loss to Weston in a first-round Division 3 North tournament game.
The Spartans, 13-8, were held in check by senior pitcher Max Barsamian, who allowed only three hits — two of them in one inning — and struck out 12.
“It’s kind of the story of the season,” said Spartan coach Derek Dana of the team’s lack of hitting. “We didn’t hit enough to win consistently.”
The Wildcats, who were seeded 10th to St. Mary’s 7th, spotted the Spartans a 2-0 lead before roaring back with three runs in the fifth inning to overtake them.
Missed opportunities were the bane of St. Mary’s existence. In both of the innings the Spartans scored, they could have easily added more runs. In the second, after an infield hit by Jared Coppola drove home Connor Donahue, who was pinch-running for Anthony Nikolakakis (who had walked), St. Mary’s had runners on first and second with two outs. However, Barsmanian got the third out on a strikeout.
Then, in the fourth, it really looked as if the Spartans were going to get something going. With one out, Nikolakakis doubled and Kyle Ouellette followed with a triple. But the Spartans couldn’t get him in.
“We missed some opportunities,” agreed Dana. “And when you miss opportunities in games like this, they can find you.”
The Spartans spoiled a good effort from pitcher Bobby Alcock who — save for the fifth inning — was on his game. He ended up allowing seven hits and striking out 11.
“Bobby did great,” said Dana. “He really competed, and he’s only going to get better and better.”
In the top of the fifth, Alcock, after pitching his way out of a none-out, runner-on-third jam without giving up a run, got in trouble again, giving a bloop single just over the outstretched glove of second baseman Jack Ward; and walking No. 9 hitter Bryce McCanne. When leadoff hitter Peter Messervy followed with another single, a run scored.
Noah Hooper then followed with a sacrifice bunt that moved the runners along and Saajan May followed with a well-placed single that Alcock couldn’t quite stab, scoring both runs and giving Weston a 3-2 lead.
Ironically enough, after the two runs scored, Alcock proceeded to strike out the side.
St. Mary’s had its best chance after that in the bottom of the sixth. With one out, pinch-hitter Louis Vidal walked. After Lee Pacheco went down swinging, Ryan Turenne followed with another walk.
That brought up designated hitter John Mulready, who hit one right on the screws to straight-away center. It looked as if it would go over center fielder Messervy’s head, but he had late-closing speed and caught up with the ball, catching it with his back to the diamond.
Dana wouldn’t bemoan the lack of luck.
“That’s the game,” he said, “and that’s the high school tournament. People rise up to the occasion.
“Another four or five inches, and that ball’s over his head and we score two runs. But that’s baseball.”