The Marblehead/Swampscott American Legion Post 57 Mariners picked up a couple of more wins after the Fourth of July weekend break to run their record to 9-2 in the Junior Division. They remain in second place four points behind first place North Andover (11-3-1) in the District 8 standings, 15-11.
The Mariners, authors of an eight-game winning streak, easily defeated Newburyport at Frank DeFelice Field in Swampscott on July 8, 13-6.
Jesse Swartz tied up the game at one in the home half of the first with a solo shot. The home team then flipped the game on its head in the fourth with six runs on only two hits to take a 9-4 lead. Nick Berube provided the big hit with a two-run single.
Pitcher Nate Lee earned the win on the mound, allowing zero hits and zero runs over two innings, while striking out two and walking one. Zach Alex pitched three innings in relief, surrendering just one hit. He fanned five, walked two and yielded no runs to secure the save.
The Mariners pounded out 11 hits, led by Michael Collins, who added pop in the middle of the lineup to end up with three hits and three RBI. Cooper Correnti (single, double) and Berube (two singles, two RBI) each collected multiple hits to significantly do their part at the plate.
“We also had a strong eye at the plate after accumulating 10 walks in the game,” said coach Steve Correnti. “Alex and Lee led the team in that department with two free passes apiece. Berube and Alex again each stole multiple bases, which added another dimension to our offense. As a team, we were credited with 10 stolen bases in this game.”
Two nights later at Lynn’s Fraser Field, the Mariners doubled up the home team, 12-6. Swartz set the tone for the game by patiently walking three times, which affected pitch counts.
The Mariners busted out early with runs right away in the first inning. Correnti drew a walk to begin the uprising, and a short time later he scored the first run of the game. Lee followed with a single, and he too scored a run. Owen Coyne did the same to account for the third run of the game. Berube also scored a run after reaching base via a walk.
Lee extended the visitors lead to 7-0 in the top of the second with an RBI single. They tacked on four more runs in the third as a result of RBI walks to Correnti, Coyne, Alex and Berube. Swartz closed out the offense with an inside-the-park homerun in the sixth.
Berube pitched 3.2-innings in relief, giving up three hits and two runs, none earned. He fanned three, and walked just one. David Palmer started the game on the hill, issuing four hits and four walks that resulted in four runs, three of them earned, over the first 3.1-innings. He whiffed four.
Lee and Swartz each collected two hits to pace the offensive attack, while Berube and Lee drove in two runs apiece. As a team, they walked 18 times in the game, led by Correnti, Collins and Swartz with three each. Adam Sparacio, Collins, Lee and Swartz each stole multiple bases for a team that swiped 14 collectively versus Lynn. Chase Fasciano, Swartz and Lee combined for five hits and five walks that kept the offense moving throughout the game.
