RallyNorth.net

Dean is dominant as Falcons shut down Swampscott

Monday, April, 14 By Matt Williams
Staff writer

SWAMPSCOTT | There are a lot of frontline starting pitchers in the Northeastern Conference this season. Yesterday, Danvers ace Bobby Dean may have leapfrogged the pack and gone to the front of that line as the league's best.

The senior righty had host Swampscott off-balance all afternoon, tossing six innings of one-hit baseball as the Falcons opened defense of their 2007 conference title with a 9-6 road victory.

"Anytime Bobby is dealing like that, it's going to be really tough to win," said Swampscott coach T.J. Baril.

Dean carried a no-hitter into the sixth inning, only to see Swampscott's Stephen Moran blast a 3-2 pitch over the right field fence to break it up. But that didn't take away from a resounding performance that saw Dean fan 12 batters and retire the side in order in four of the six innings he pitched.

"Bobby was better (than last year). He had a lot more confidence. His command and velocity are stronger," said Danvers coach Roger Day. "He's a stronger, better baseball player in almost every way."

Trailing by eight runs heading into the seventh inning and with Dean finally off the hill, the Big Blue (1-1) made some headway. The tying run was at-bat after a lengthy rally, but Falcon reliever Jeff Eldridge got a ground ball to end the game.

It was a forgettable afternoon for Dean's counterpart, Swampscott ace Hunter Gordon. The junior flamethrower didn't record an out in the fifth inning and was charged with five hits and six runs. He walked three and also hit a batter, but the Big Blue's defense didn't help him out as three errors contributed to the damage.

"Our defense didn't help us, but that wasn't the story. We just got beat," said Baril.

Senior Chris Perry, one of Danvers' four captains, led off the second inning with a homer over the right field fence. Freshman Kyle Larson walked in his first varsity at-bat, took second on a passed ball, moved to third on a sacrifice bunt and scored on another passed ball to put the Falcons on top 2-0.

Danvers had baserunners in every inning and showed considerable patience in refusing to chase anything Gordon offered even moderately outside the strike zone.

"The kids battled and I think we made him pitch to us," said Day. "I'm a little surprised that we hit as well as we did, but that's a good sign."

After adding a run in the fourth, the Falcons chased Gordon from the game in the fifth. Tom Marini led off with a walk, and an errant throw on Dean's bunt attempt put two men on. When Eldridge followed by knocking in a run, Swampscott opted to bring senior Peter Kinchley into the game in relief.

Kinchley hit the first batter he faced and allowed two more runs and the follies continued in the sixth. Two more errors contributed to another pair of Danvers runs and the hosts trailed, 8-1, heading into the final inning.

Dean scored twice after reaching on an errors, Eldridge finished with two RBI and Troy Thibodeau had a strong day at the dish with two hits and a run scored.

Swampscott's bats came alive in the bottom of the seventh. Consecutive base hits started things off, and Moran and senior catcher Danny Nellhaus knocked in runs as the comeback began. Gordon added a fielder's choice grounder than brought another run home as Danvers started to sweat.

Kinchley delivered an RBI single to make it 9-6 and Justin Mitchell singled to bring the tying run to the plate before Danvers retired the side and walked away with a win.

"We're proud of the way the kids hung in there, because a lot of teams might have folded their tents in that kind of situation," said Baril.