PEABODY — The West Lynn 12-year-old all-stars were pushed to the limit in this one.
Winthrop’s late comeback attempt made things interesting but West Lynn held on for a 5-4 win in Tuesday’s District 16 Little League Tournament game at Lt. Ross Park.
The Galva brothers, Gilbert and Guilmer, were the difference for West Lynn. Guilmer threw 4 2/3 innings, cruising through his first four innings with eight strikeouts and helping West Lynn build a 5-0 lead before Winthrop scored four runs in the fifth inning.
Catcher Gilbert went 3-for-3 with three RBI and threw the tying run out at second base on a steal attempt in the sixth inning.
“There were a couple errors and that kind of got Winthrop started (in the fifth inning) but Guilmer did an awesome job,” West Lynn manager Rich Contreras said. “Without him we wouldn’t have won the game. We needed that start to win the game.
“Gilbert brings that big bat and he does a pretty good job,” Contreras said. “Everybody on this team, they’re all good players.”
Guilmer Galva (1-for-2, walk) and Rowan Merryman each had one RBI. Eddie Lewis and Jacob Peterson each scored two runs while Christian Figueroa scored one.
Winthrop showed no quit but fell short of completing the comeback. Mike Donahue, Gavin Collins and Scott Boery each had one RBI.
It didn’t take long for West Lynn to grab the lead. Lewis walked and an infield error put runners on for Gilbert Galva. He delivered with a one-run single and Guilmer Galva came through with another RBI single to give West Lynn a 2-0 lead.
West Lynn added another pair of runs in the second. Christian Figueroa singled and another Winthrop error put runners on second and third. Gilbert Galva delivered, again, with a two-run double to stretch the lead to 4-0.
Meanwhile Guilmer Galva cruised through four innings, striking out six in a row through the first three innings. West Lynn plated the eventual winning run in the fourth. A pair of singles from Lewis and Gilbert Galva and an error loaded the bases. Merryman brought home the run on a fielder’s choice to put West Lynn ahead 5-0.
The Winthrop bats figured out Guilmer Galva the third time around the order. Aidan Suevilas singled and scored after a walk and an error to break the shutout. Another error helped cut the lead down to 5-2. Collins laced a RBI triple and Beory plated a run on a single, whittling West Lynn’s lead to 5-4.
Jacob Peterson relieved Guilmer Galva and ended the fifth with a strikeout. Winthrop had the tying run on base in the sixth but West Lynn buckled down for the final two outs. Galva’s putout and a Peterson strikeout iced the 5-4 win.
“That last inning was perfect,” Contreras said. “That’s what we practice. Jake Peterson came in and finished off the game. That’s exactly what we needed an we’ve been working on it for 10 days in practice. It was an awesome job.”
West Lynn (1-1) gets its first win of the tournament and will be back on the diamond Friday (5:30) against crosstown rival East Lynn at Wyoma.
“It a big win to get us in the win column,” Contreras said. “We’re definitely excited. We get along with East Lynn well. With holidays coming we can’t practice until then so we’re hoping to be ready.”