LYNN — The state’s top senior talents were brought to Fraser Field Wednesday at the 42nd annual Massachusetts Baseball Coaches Association Eastern Massachusetts Senior All-Star game.
This one belonged to Apponequet’s Colin Fahey, who powered the South all-stars to a 6-3 win over the North with a 2-run home run and three RBI on the night. Fahey was named the South’s offensive player of the game. Dennis-Yarmouth’s Charles McCaffrey tossed two shutout innings in relief and was named South’s pitcher of the game.
North’s roster included six locals in English infielder Jomar Moreta, Saugus pitcher Todd Tringale, Lynnfield infielder/pitcher Fernando Gonzalez and infielder Jonathan Luders, and St. John’s catcher Alex Lane and infielder Will Potdevin. Lane drove in two runs and was named North’s offensive player of the game. Austin Prep’s Cam Seguin was named North’s pitcher of the game.
Saugus coach Joe Luis guided the North all-stars alongside Steve Busby of Austin Prep.
“After having a nice season like we had, it was great to be able to come and watch the top talent in the area play,” Luis said. “The fielding was phenomenal, the pitching was excellent, the bats were swinging. I can take a little bit of what I saw (Wednesday) into next season. Seeing their work ethic, how they take ground balls, how they take pepper. That’s what makes these kids so good. It’s the extra stuff.”
South sprinted out to a swift 2-0 lead in the top of the first. No. 2 hitter Sam Nugent was hit by a pitch and scored on Scott Elliot’s RBI triple. Elliot crossed home plate on Dan Saraceno’s sac-fly to centerfield.
South bumped its lead to 4-0 in the top of the second with one swing of the bat. Cam Caraher singled to lead the inning and Fahey followed with his 2-run home run to left field.
North had its chances to chip away at South’s lead in the early innings. Cam Kelly singled to lead the bottom of the first only to be followed by a 6-4-3 double play. Sebastian Keane doubled to start the bottom of the second but South starter Kyle Moran ended the inning with three strikeouts.
North reliever Tringale kept South’s offense quiet in the top of the third.
“It was special watching Todd pitch (Wednesday),” Luis said. “Todd’s a special kid. He played a huge role in our success this year. He’s going to go off to UMass Amherst and do what he needs to do. He was reminiscing at the end of the year and he told me, ‘Coach, remember two years ago when I didn’t even have a pick-off move?’ That’s something we taught him. That’s how far he’s come to being the pitcher he is now. It’s a compliment to the work he’s put in.”
South cashed in on an error in the top of the fourth, boosting its lead to 5-0 after Saraceno laced a 2-out double. J.P. Olson followed with a single and a misplayed ball in the outfield allowed Saraceno to score. Relievers Gonzalez and Ryan Qualey helped North remain within striking distance with a scoreless inning each. Gonzalez struck out the first two batters of the top of the fifth. He allowed a 2-out single before inducing a groundout to end the frame.
North’s bats were silent through the middle innings. South retired 12 North batters in a row until Gonzalez ripped a 1-out single in the bottom of the sixth. North finally found the scoreboard two batters later, when Lane plated Kyle DeRoma with a 2-out RBI double.
South got the run back in the top of the eighth. Olson led the rally with a 1-out double down the left field line. After a lineout, Fahey brought Olson home with a RBI single to bump the lead to 6-1.
Showing no quit, North strung together a 2-run rally in the bottom of the ninth. Peter Messervy reached on an error to get things started and advanced to second on Luders’ single. Gonzalez pushed the runners to second and third with a groundout. Messervy closed the gap to 6-2 when he scored on a fielder’s choice. Lane followed suit with a RBI triple, plating Luders for the 6-3 final.