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Theriault's suicide squeeze gives Salem a share of first place

Wednesday, May, 14 By Jean DePlacido
Correspondent

SALEM | Now it's a race in the Northeastern Conference Large baseball standings.

For the second time this season, Salem knocked off neighboring rival Peabody by a run. This time, it was Beau Theriault's suicide squeeze that scored the go-ahead run in the sixth inning, leading to his team's 7-6 victory at the Salem State College baseball field.

Salem (10-6) not only swept its season series from the Tanners (having prevailed at Peabody, 1-0, last month), but also qualified for the state tournament with the victory.

Just as important, they now sit tied with Peabody atop the NEC Large, with both teams sporting 9-4 conference marks.

"This is a great rivalry because a lot of our kids know their kids," said Salem coach Mike Ward. "Peabody has a great program and their team is well-coached. Every year you know you have to be at your best to beat them. And our guys are always up for it."

If the two teams finish tied atop the league standings, Salem would take the crown by virtue of its series sweep over the Tanners.

In the bottom of the sixth inning, Mac Ryan worked a walk off Peabody reliever Pat Dumas to start things off, went to second on a passed ball and stole third. Matt Paine hit a fly ball to right field, but Ryan did not attempt to score on the play | and made the right choice as outfielder Kevin Skop threw a strike to the plate.

But Theriault was sent up to get the bunt down, and with the speedy Ryan charging for the plate, he delivered a perfect one to get the run home.

"The No. 9 hitter's suicide squeeze wins the game," said Peabody coach Mark Bettencourt. "We knew what he was going to do, and tried to get the pitch up | but he got the job done."

"All season long we've been an aggressive team with baserunning and bunting," added Ward. "That was a real pressure situation for Beau, but he did a great job."

The loss for Peabody (11-5) came one day after pounding out 19 runs against Winthrop. But on this day, Salem starter Colby Boulay and reliever Justin Williams combined to limit the Tanners to four hits | all singles.

The score was tied at 1-1 in the fourth when Salem sent nine batters to the plate and scored five times to take a commanding 6-1 lead.

Peabody starter James Noftle surrendered four straight singles, beginning with an infield hit by Aiden Church. Salem's John Pegnato and Harry Noone followed with singles to load the bases with one down for Ryan, who ripped an RBI single to right field. After an infield throwing error plated another run, Dan Reddy delivered a two-run double to left.

But that lead was quickly erased by the visiting Tanners in the top of the fifth when they batted around and took advantage of some Witches' errors to tie it up again. Three walks by Boulay, coupled with two infield errors and an RBI single by Ty Hopping, evened the score.

Boulay gave way to Williams after Hopping's hit, and Williams got Gary Girolamo to ground out to end the inning.

Williams was credited with the victory, pitching 2 <1/3> innings of strong relief and retiring seven of the eight batters he faced. The only hit he surrendered was a single up the middle by Skop in the sixth.

"What makes me so proud of the kids is the way we never gave up after making those errors to let Peabody back in the game," said Ward. "They were all physical mistakes, but we didn't get down. We came back and stayed in the game."

Reddy powered Salem offensively with two hits and two RBIs. Church, Paine, Ryan and Theriault also knocked home runs.

Peabody, which has now lost three games by one run and two others by two runs. got two RBIS from Latorella while Pat Yeo, Tommy Ciulla and Hopping had one each.