RallyNorth.net

Clemson-bound hurler ousts Lawrence

Friday, May, 30 By Hector Longo
Staff writer

A week before the draw was even official, Brendan Neilon knew the deck was stacked against his Lancers.

Yesterday in the Division 1 North baseball prelims, Scott Weismann, fresh off being named Massachusetts Gatorade Player of the Year, turned reality into a nightmare, pitching and hitting No. 15 Acton-Boxboro past No. 18 Lawrence, 8-3.

"Their pitcher, he is what he is. You don't go to Clemson because you can't pitch," said Neilon. "I think he had two speeds, hard and harder. He's just a good pitcher."

Lawrence got to the Clemson-bound right-hander for eight hits and three runs, all earned, but time and time again the senior popped a 90 mph heater on the edge or hit a perfect spot with the breaking ball when he needed to.

With a handful of pro scouts taking in the action, Weismann moved to 7-2, striking out eight over seven innings.

"Realistically we thought if we could get four runs, four might do it and we could scrape it out," said Neilon. "I don't think we were afraid. I'm proud of our kids."

The Lancers, who finish at 11-10, came out swinging.

With two out in the first, Ruben Sosa beat out an infield hit and moved up on Harvey Blanco's single. Sophomore Jose Sandoval then stunned Weismann with a two-run double to deep right-center.

Lawrence would hold the lead until the third when lefty Ruddy Espinal was touched for three runs.

Through 5<1/2> innings, it was still 3-2 A-B.

Weismann, though, laced a two-run homer as part of a three-run sixth that broke it open.

"Any draw but this kid pitching we have a shot, but that's part of the game and they have him," said Neilon. "We had our chances to get some runs. We just couldn't pull the trigger."

Lawrence featured five sophomores among 10 starters yesterday. Throw in two shutout innings of relief from freshman Junior Vasquez, including one fastball that drew a radar gun reading of 88 mph, and the core of a potential contender is in place.

"We told Mike Calzetta the reason why we didn't pitch him (in relief) is that we have to have the mentality that we're going to be here the next two years and he is going to pitch in the state tournament," said Neilon of his 5-1 sophomore righty.

"We expect to be here next year. We expect, with these guys coming back, that we should make a run at the league. Our sophomore guys, and we forget sometimes they're only sophomores, they are leaders, too. They're going to be leaders in the football program, and they will be here."