The Fourth of July weekend is traditionally the halfway point of the season in the North Shore Baseball League. It also provides a well-needed break in the regular season schedule for players and coaches alike.
The Marblehead Seasiders had been off since June 30, before resuming the schedule on July 6 against the Rowley Nor’easters (6-6, as of July 2) after press deadline. They then took on the Beverly Recs (2-9) the next day. They were then off again until Saturday, July 13, when the Swampscott Sox (9-4) come to Seaside Park for a 2 p.m. game. The North Shore Phillies (4-6) will then play host to the local nine to complete the weekend on Sunday, beginning at 5:30 p.m.
The Seasiders were 3-10 heading into the holiday break, and in 10 th place in the 11-team league.
“Winning games is all about getting the right players from our 20-plus roster to show up,” said general manager and coach Joe McKane. “Over the past nine years, I have come to realize that summer baseball is not always our players’ first priority. Family, work, travel and social events will come before games. Our captains — Trey Blackmer, Ryan Gallagher and Mike Mitchell — do their best to get good attendance.”
But on June 27 against the Kingston Night Owls, the Seasiders came through with a thrilling 2-1 victory.
“It was one of those nights,” said McKane. “We had 14 players show up, and ended up winning one of the best games we have played in years.
“Jack Lindsay and Ian Gallagher combined on the mound to win this game. Jack went 4.1-innings, giving up just one run, while stranding six. Ian then closed out the game throwing 34 pitches, 25 of them for strikes. He gave up just one hit and struck out four in his 2.2-innings,” added McKane.
Offensively, Brennan Frost tripled in the winning run. Gallagher accounted for the other tally. “We left 11 runners on base, and made hard outs twice with the bases loaded,” said the veteran Seasiders coach.
Shortstop Dereck Finn chipped in with two hits, Brady Lavender was credited with two difficult catches in left to end the game, and Schuyler Schmidt came up with a diving catch in right in foul territory to highlight some of the clutch plays the Seasiders had made during this game.
Three Seasiders chosen for all-star team
Frost (2 home runs, 9 RBI), a first baseman by trade, has also pitched nine innings to record a 1.45 ERA.
Ryan Gallagher, the team’s captain and catcher, leads the Seasiders in hitting with a .316 batting average. Pitcher James Giugino has two wins, and has an ERA of 2.45 over 28 innings. All three players recently made the NSBL all-star team. “(Giugino) has been our ace the last three years,” added McKane.
