Shawn Withrow (2 steals) steals second in the first inning.
Jake Crowley tossed a one-hitter with ten strikeouts
(Lynn) The combination of Jake Crowley’s one-hitter and shaky Boston International defense gave Northeast Regional (Wakefield) a 7-0 victory in the D4 North semi-finals on a pleasant Wednesday afternoon at Fraser Field in Lynn.
The win earns the #1 seed Golden Knights a trip to the Division 4 North finals on Saturday (10AM) against Georgetown at LeLacheur Park in Lowell.
Northeast starter Jake Crowley was impressive. The senior lefty kept #4 seed BI off balance most of the time wracking up ten strikeouts. After Carlos Jimenes’ ground single up the middle in the second, Jake didn’t allow a base runner over the final 5 1/3 innings.
Northeast Regional (17-5) is good but Boston International (Dorchester) made things way too easy for the eventual winners with a nightmarish afternoon in the field.
BI starter Leonel Mojica allowed only four hits and had eight strikeouts but he also gave up six walks. Four of the walk recipients ended up scoring.
Frank Rosario about to tag out Jake Crowley
The aggressive Knights ran wild on the bases with six steals in seven attempts. BI catcher Randy Gonzalez did get Jake Crowley in the fourth inning.
The unhealthy trio of walks, hits, and stolen bases was going to lead to runs sooner or later……. but not seven of them. Only two of the Northeast runs came that way.
This game got out of hand when centerfielder Alfredo Frias dropped routine two-out flies in the second and sixth.
The first time it happened the bases were loaded. All three Knight runners were off with the sound of the bat and when Jason Harper’s fly wasn’t caught, Hector Nunez, Shawn Withrow, and Jake Crowley crossed the plate. So instead of a 2-0 deficit the Lions trailed 5-0 after two innings.
Joe Tallent scored two runs including this one in the sixth.
Those five runs already looked like a pretty high mountain to climb for the Lions but the Knights collected two more unearned runs in the sixth. Pinch hitter CJ Pettigrew doubled to left and Joe Tallent walked with two outs before another fly ball to center was dropped and two more gift runs came across making it 7-0.
Casey Orlando had two of the Knights four hits.
Knight shortstop Jonathan Dalba made a nice running catch of Frank Rosario’s bloop into short left.
Northeast coach Steve Montello kept his ace Jason Harper off the field (he usually plays third when he isn’t pitching) to rest him for the D4 North finals.
The Lions (13-7) were the champs of the Boston City League South and had defeated North Shore Tech, 4-3, on Tuesday.
Northeast gets a rematch with Georgetown. They lost last year in the semis to the Royals.
Who can figure the weather? I came expecting clouds/rain/cold and sat through clouds/sun/heat.
Jason Harper
Northeast is from the Commonwealth Athletic Conference. Jason Harper was league MVP. He is 10-1 with two saves and is almost certain to be on the mound Saturday against Georgetown ace Ryan Browner. That should be a good one!
(All of the pictures above and below enlarge if you click on them.)
pregame grooming
Angeli Rosario
Coach Steve Montello checks with Jake Crowley in the 7th inning
Guest is Boston International and Home is Northeast Regional. This was just before the final out.
Boston International coach
Casey Orlando (2 hits) lines up a fly ball
BI pitcher Leonel Mojica
Shawn Withrow scores first Knight run
Hector Nunez locates a foul pop.
