RallyNorth.net

Mendez, Lancers knock off Methuen

Thursday, May, 27 By Hector Longo

LAWRENCE - A year ago in the same Lawrence Invitational opening matchup, Victor Mendez barely lasted two innings against Methuen.

Last night, Mendez dominated in a three-hit, 10-strikeout complete game as Lawrence High throttled Methuen, 10-1.

Today (7:30 p.m.), the six-team tournament's other opening rounder should be a great one here at Devlin Field. Lefty Michael Weisman and No. 7 North Andover will play for a Cape Ann League title against undefeated, No. 5 Masconomet. Lawrence now awaits Tewksbury in the second of two semifinals on Saturday evening.

"I heard that they were happy I was pitching against them (not ace Michael Calzetta or No. 2 man Yunior Vasquez)," said Mendez. "I was kind of upset, but at the same time happy for a chance at them."

The junior righty rode his bread-and-butter, a biting slider that he picked up as a sophomore on the JV team. He walked just three and stranded four, moving to 5-0 and lowering his ERA to 1.14.

"The slider, sometimes I don't even know how it's going to move, but it's nasty," said Mendez. "It was moving a lot."

Mendez basically made one mistake, which Methuen's Cody Cyr tattooed for a run-scoring double in the third.

Other than that, the night belonged to the Lancers.

Calzetta opened the scoring with a two-out, two-run double in the third. Lawrence put up another in the second, aided by a pair of Ranger errors, before breaking it open with four in the fourth.

Tito Lluberes and Dionys Quezada each had a pair of hits and two RBIs to fuel the offense.

Mendez now gets to sit back and watch the two Lancer show ponies strut their stuff. Vasquez, 5-0, will most likely tango with Tewksbury, while the two-time Merrimack Valley Conference Division 2 MVP Calzetta hopes to be pitching for a title on Sunday night.

"I'm here for the team, whatever it takes," said Mendez, who will be a valuable tool when the Division 1 North tourney and its 9-inning marathon games commence. "I'll do whatever they ask, maybe I'll be the closer. But I know I'm going to be needed."

Junior Cal Carroll, now 4-3, took the loss for the 5-13 Rangers. The right-hander probably deserved a better fate, giving up nine hits. Three Ranger errors helped stake Lawrence to the lead, but Carroll fought hard the rest of the way right to the finish.