By STEPHEN MARTELLUCCI
GLOUCESTER — It was an impressive run for the Lynnfield 11-year-old All-Star baseball team this summer. After winning the District 16 title last year when they were 10-year-old’s, they won the district again going a perfect 4-0 this year.
They were dominant outscoring their opponents, 42-6.
In the sectionals, Lynnfield reached the Section 4 final before getting edged, 1-0, to Beverly on July 14 (all sectional games took place at Stage Fort Park in Gloucester).
“It was a heartbreaker,” admitted Lynnfield manager Chris Cavallo “We out-hit them 5-3 and the only run they scored was a hit-by-pitch with the bases loaded in the second inning.”
The Mandell brothers, Nico and Luca were the two Lynnfield pitchers. Nico started and went 3.2 innings. He gave up one run and two hits. His brother went 1.1 innings allowing just one hit.
“They both pitched great but we stranded too many runners on base,” said Cavallo.
The day before, Lynnfield lost to Beverly, 5-0.
“We didn’t need to win that game and Beverly did,” pointed out Cavallo. “They scored all five runs in the fourth inning but only two of the runs were earned because we had a couple of errors.”
Nico Cavallo went 3.1 innings. He gave up just two earned runs, four hits, three walks and he struck out five.
The Lynnfield offense had five hits in this game as well.
“Their pitcher was very good,” admitted Cavallo.
On July 12, Lynnfield doubled up Stoneham, 4-2, in the second game of the sectionals.
“That was a great win,” recalled Cavallo. “We played good defense that day.”
Alexander Mailiaweo was the winning pitcher going 4.1 innings. He gave up two earned runs, five hits, five walks and he fanned six.
Luca Mandell pitched the final 1.2 innings to record the save.
Lynnfield scored once in the second inning and three more times in the third.
Maverick Murphy, John Kayola and Nico Mandell all had RBI singles while Cavallo drew a bases-loaded walk for the other RBI.
In the opening game of the sectionals, Lynnfield beat Danvers National, 6-3, on July 11.
Luca Mandell was the winning pitcher in relief going 1.2 innings. He gave up one run and one hit.
After Danvers scored three times in the sixth inning, Nick Cavallo got the final two outs to get the save.
Lynnfield scored once in the first, twice in the second, twice in the third and once in the fifth as they never trailed..
Nico Mandell led the offense going a perfect 3 for 3 with one RBI.
“All of his hits were line drives and he also pitched well,” said Cavallo.
Dylan Delory had a key, two-run triple in the third inning.
In the District 16 title game on July 6, Lynnfield blanked Peabody West, 10-0, in a four-inning mercy-rule game in Swampscott.
Nico Mandell pitched all four innings allowing two hits, two walks and striking out eight.
The offense pounded out 12 hits as Matt Cavallo and Kayola were both 2 for 3. Cavallo had one RBI while Kayola had a team-high four RBI.
Nico Cavallo was 2 for 2 as he was the team’s third multiple hitter.
At Hurd Field in Saugus on June 30, Lynnfield beat Salem 8-3.
The offense had a postseason-high 16 hits as Matt Cavallo led the way going 3 for 3. Luca Mandell, Nico Cavallo, Ben O’Hara and Nico Mandelll were all 2 for 3.
Nico Cavallo and O’Hara both had two RBI while Luca Mandell knocked in one.
In their first meeting with Peabody West on June 25, Lynnfield won, 10-3, up in Swampscott.
Lynnfield had 10 hits led by Luca Mandell who was 2 for 3 with four RBI. O’Hara was 2 for 3 with one RBI while Delory had one hit and two RBI.
Luca Mandell was the winning pitcher in relief going the final three innings He did not allow a hit, walked two and fanned six.
At Gallagher Field in Lynn on June 21, Lynnfield blanked Winthrop, 14-0, in a four-inning mercy-rule game to open the tournament.
The offense had 14 hits as Matty Geary was 2 for 2 with three RBI while Murphy went 2 for 2 with four RBI.
Kayola went 2 for 3 at the dish with three runs knocked in.
Nico Mandell was the winning pitcher going the first three innings. He gave up two hits, one walk and he struck out four.
Cavallo enjoyed coaching the team again this summer.
“I was extremely proud of the kids,” he stated. “It is a great group and they came to each game focused and ready to play. It was fun coaching them.”
Cavallo also wanted to thank his assistant coaches, Bill Mandell, Tom Kayola and Dave Delory and hopes to coach the team again where they are 12-year-old’s next summer.