RallyNorth.net

PEABODY — Pardon Brady Abraham for being just a little bit reluctant to leave the Peabody High diamond, wearing the Central Catholic uniform for the final time.

Abraham and the Raiders had just fallen in the Division 1 North quarters to the host Tanners, 9-5, and a dozen Central seniors had seen their careers abruptly halted.

In his first pitching appearance of the season, Tom Pelletier threw three innings of three-hit relief as Central Catholic humbled David Prouty of Spencer, 17-3.

Gabriel Hernandez went 3 for 4 with two RBIs and two runs to lead Andover 9-6 over Central. The win was the Golden Warriors' 10th, which qualifies them for the tournament. 

Trailing by three runs heading into the bottom of the eighth inning, Central Catholic delivered its second dramatic rally of the game, with Nick Gorski doubling to center field to drive home the tying and winning run for the Raiders in a 10-9 walkoff victory over Sandwich.

After a couple of strong efforts but minimal offense, John Parsons' bases-loaded double in the first inning signalled a positive change for Central Catholic in a 9-0 whitewashing of Methuen. Brady Abraham cracked a solo homer in the fifth inning and leadoff hitter Anthony Licari kickstarted the attack by getting on base three times.

Central Catholic's Brady Abraham started the seventh with a walk, advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt and went to third on a passed ball. Then, with two outs, Nick Delois was called on to pinch hit and delivered a single to right field to plate Abraham for the lone run in the Raiders' 1-0 victory over Chelmsford.

Pat Gleason started the offensive attack with a two-run homer in the first, and Cam Devanney continued the assault with a three-run double in the fourth as Central Catholic beat Lowell 8-5.

Not only did Andrew Hamel step up like a No. 1 pitcher, he shook off adversity to do so.

Chelmsford took a 2-1 lead in the fifth inning on pitcher Russell Olive's two-run single, but the Central Catholic lefty closed the door from there. The Raiders rewarded his determination by turning an error, a hit batter and four hits into a five-run sixth and a 6-2 victory. 

Haverhill scored the go-ahead run in the top of the seventh but Central Catholic pulled out a 6-5 win on a throwing error, two walks a William Martin RBI suicide squeeze. The ensuing overthrow at the plate brought in Pat Gleason for the winning run.

Aaron Hall blasted a two-run homer and added a leadoff triple and scored but Central Catholic lost a heartbreaker to Dracut, 5-4.