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Lawrence takes charge in MVC small, raps Hillies

Saturday, May, 09 By Hector Longo
Staff writer

HAVERHILL - It's a three-game stretch than can position Lawrence High on the Eastern Mass. baseball map.Step 1, a convincing 7-3 win here over Haverhill yesterday, was by all means a smash.The Lancers, now securely atop the Merrimack Valley Conference small school standings at 11-2 overall and 7-2 in the league, have the opportunity to send a message, both Monday with Tewksbury and then Wednesday night, under the lights at home against large school-leading Central Catholic.Coach Brendan Neilon put the ball in Yunior Vasquez able hands and the sophomore delivered a gem, spacing six hits and four free passes over the distance. He fanned 11, the fourth time he's piled up double-figure strikeout numbers."I was a little surprised I got the ball in such a big game," said Vasquez, now 5-0 on the year. "It's good to go out and prove you can do it against top hitters like (Haverhill catcher Ronnie Rosario). This was big because we have a chance now to basically put them away in the conference race."Haverhill now stands at 5-5 in the league, with the possibility of an 8-5 finish. Dracut is 5-4, still two back of the Lancers.Lawrence got a pair of runs in the first, pouncing on an infield error. Jovany Fernandez' third-inning sac fly made it 3-0, before the Hillies chipped away for a pair in their half.Harvey Blanco smacked and RBI single in the Lawrence fourth, and Danny Cruz busted it open with a two-run triple to deep left-center.From there, it was all Vasquez, who helped his own cause by starting a 1-2-3 double play to end the fourth."I got a lot of help from my teammates, and I just had to do my thing," said Vasquez.Lawrence pounded 12 hits as Jose Sandoval, Blanco, Cruz, Mike Calzetta and Dionys Quezada all had two apiece.The Hillies, who need one win in the last five to assure a spot in the state tourney got some more good news in the recovery of pitcher Taylor Robinson. The big righty pitched three strong innings of relief, striking out four without allowing an earned run.Knuckling underOnly a sophomore, Lawrence's Yunior Vasquez and his high-80s fastball were the talk of the preseason.The key to his success, other than the heat, has been his second pitch, a knuckle curve.How did he learn to throw such a rare pitch?"I taught it to myself," said Vasquez, now 5-0. "I watched (former Oriole and Yankee great) Mike Mussina and worked at throwing it the way he did."