RallyNorth.net

Pentucket falls just short of upset

Saturday, May, 31 By Hector Longo
Staff writer

DANVERS | By the third trip to the mound for Danvers ace Bobby Dean last the night, Pentucket Regional seemed a bit unimpressed.

Sachem Jordan Silva tattooed a Dean fastball with two outs in the top of the seventh for a game-tying, RBI triple.

But Pentucket needed one more clutch hit off the Vermount-bound ace to complete the upset and couldn't get it.

And in the bottom half of the frame, No. 2 Danvers provided some heroics of its, with a two-out rally to finally subdue No. 15 Pentucket, 2-1.

Dean, who started the game in center field, was summoned to the mound three times in earning the win. With two down and the bases loaded in the Sachem third, he got the only hitter he faced on strikes.

With Bobby DiSorbo reaching second on an error to lead the fifth, Dean came on and escaped the jam with three straight outs. And in the seventh, the home folks had figured the third time would also be a charm.

Silva had different ideas, though, taking an 80-something fastball to the fence in right to score DiSorbo.

"Jordan's one of our more invested players, he cares an awful lot," said Pentucket coach Tom L'Italien. "He's been a big part of things for three years, and we're lucky to have him back for one more."

Dean's blown save would become a win rather quickly, thanks to a two-out double by Jay Korthas and Jeff Eldredge's game-winning single.

The run spoiled an otherwise remarkable evening for Pentucket right-hander Mike Sloban, who carried a two-hitter into seventh.

"Mike just took the ball for us and battled all night," said L'Italien. "He has nothing to hang his head about. The kid just pitched a great game.

Pentucket had a couple of chances early, only to be stopped

Peter Creamer's leadoff single in the second went for naught. Jamie Ryan, Sean Milley and Justin Bolla loaded the bases in the third without a score. In all, Pentucket outhit the hosts, 7-4.

Pentucket finishes the year at 11-11 and now must look forward to replacing a superb graduating group.

Five Sachems started their last high school game last night, including Sloban.

"These seniors put a lot into this, and it showed," said L'Italien. "They provided an awful lot of leadership. You could see it all year, and especially tonight. We came to play. And they definitely left their mark on this program."

Additional stories:

• Once again, Danvers simply finds a way to win