SOMERVILLE — Ben Marciano went 3-for-4 with two RBI in the Lynn Babe Ruth 13-year-old All-Star team’s 14-12 win over Dedham Sunday at Trum Field.
Lynn improved to 2-0 in state tournament play with the victory and closes the first round Monday night (8) against Maplewood.
Lynn carried a 7-5 lead after 4 1/2 innings before Dedham brought seven runners across the plate in the bottom of the fifth. Refusing to let the pressure get to them, the Lynners scored five runs in the top of the sixth, with two more crossing the plate in the seventh for the win.
“I thought they did an excellent job,” Lynn manager Rich Avery said. “I keep telling them that we’re going to see better teams as we get deeper into this tournament. It’s not always going to be a 10-0 win. To see these kids battle back from down five, take the lead and then hold it, just shows how battle-tested they are. They work very hard every day and it shows.”
A heads-up baserunning play from Almani Gerado and a Marciano RBI single gave Lynn a 2-0 lead in the top of the second. Juniel Guzman’s (2-for-4, two RBI) RBI double in the top of the third bumped the lead to 3-0.
After Dedham got one back in the bottom of the third, Marciano hit another RBI single in the top of the fourth to put Lynn ahead 4-1.
“Ben was 8-for-8 coming into this game,” Avery said. “He’s been on fire at the plate and played great at first base (Sunday).”
Dedham cashed in on a pair of Lynn errors in the bottom of the fourth and plated four runs for a 5-4 lead.
Gerado’s (1-for-1, two RBI) bases-loaded walk in the top of the fifth knotted the score. Stevie Pedro followed with a misplayed fly ball, bringing two runs home to give Lynn a 7-5 lead.
Things took a turn for the worse in the bottom of the fifth. Dedham sent 13 batters to the plate, made the most of three Lynn errors and scored seven runs to lead 12-7.
“I feel that we’ve been getting better at the plate with every game,” Avery said, “but if we want to go deep in this tournament we have to knock the defensive mistakes off. It has to happen.”
But the Lynners fought back in the top of the sixth. Leadoff batter Darell Leon (2-for-4, two RBI) closed the gap to 12-8 with a RBI single. Guzman and Willy McCafferty (1-for-2, RBI) followed with RBI singles, whittling the deficit down to 12-10. Gerado and Castro each drew a bases-loaded walk, tying things up again at 12-12.
McCafferty, who came on in relief and helped stop the bleeding in the fifth, worked around two singles and two walks to keep Dedham scoreless in the bottom of the sixth.
Leon’s bunt RBI single in the top of the seventh scored Janier Rodriguez with the eventual game-winning run. Leon came home with an insurance run later in the frame on a Dedham error.
Anthony Cedeno sent three Dedham batters down in order in the bottom of the seventh to cap Lynn’s 14-12 win.
“It was basically a ‘closer by committee’ going into that inning,” Avery said. “Thankfully Anthony got the job done. He hadn’t pitched yet for us. To come into that spot at that point in the game just shows how good he is.”
BABE RUTH 15’S
Lynn 3, Newton 1
At World Series Park, Lynn scored all three runs in the top of the seventh. Aaron O’Connor brought two runs home with a double and Ethaniel Alamendarez plated one on a sac-fly.
Anthony Marino, who relieved starting pitcher Anthony Mateo with one out in the bottom of the seventh, surrendered one run but ended the game on a strikeout and a groundout.
Mateo struck out five and allowed three hits in 6 1/3 innings.
“I’m proud of these guys,” Lynn manager Brian O’Connor said. “They just held their heads high and kept battling until we finally got to them in the seventh. It was a great win.”
Lynn plays Arlington Monday (5) at World Series Park.
BABE RUTH 14’s
Lynn 13, Newton 7
At Bowzer Complex, Deniel Ortiz went 3-for-4 with five RBI. Brendan Falasca (1-for-3, RBI), Eldrian Bonilla (1-for-2, two RBI), Shea Palmer (1-for-2, RBI) and Brady Bullock (1-for-2, three runs) also had solid performances at the plate. Bullock recorded six putouts at center field.
Yordy Contreras got the nod and went 6 2/3 innings. Contreras allowed six hits and struck out one. Knicko Ramirez tossed 1/3 of an inning.
NORTH SHORE FREEDOM
Cape Cod 1, North Shore 0 (F/10)
Starter Max Pegnato gave North Shore 6 2/3 innings before reaching his pitch count limit. Kyle Finnigan took a tough-luck loss despite two-plus solid innings of relief.
Ryan Graciale and Zach Elwell each had one hit.