RallyNorth.net

North Andover can't get past Tewksbury

Sunday, May, 25 By Steve Palladino
Staff writer

North Andover just can't seem to solve Tewksbury. Three recent meetings have led to three agonizing defeats. The most recent, prior to yesterday, was a setback in the first round of last year's Division 2 North tourney.

Yesterday, in the semifinals of the Lawrence Tourney, the Knights were unable to close the door, squandering giving up two runs in the bottom of the seventh to fall, 4-3, to the Redmen.

"I thought we had them, but we just didn't make the plays," said North Andover coach Todd Dulin, whose team plays Methuen in the consolation game today at 4 p.m.

The Knights' decision to try to get a difficult out at second base, instead of a routine out at first, proved to be costly as Tewksbury put two runners on.  An RBI single and a suicide squeeze later, the Redmen pushed across the tying and winning runs.

The loss overshadowed North Andover's dramatic seventh-inning comeback. With two outs, the Knights scored twice to take the lead.

The loss also took away an outstanding pitching performance from senior Billy Della Rocca.

"Billy gave us a great chance to win," said Dulin of Della Rocca, who allowed just five hits over 5<2/3> innings. "We didn't want to throw Brian (Meikle) on short rest and Billy came through for us."

Meikle pitched two innings in Thursday night's win over Pentucket.

The Knights (14-5) had life pumped into them with two outs in the seventh when Josh Breeden reached on an infield error. Center fielder Ryan Sifferlen singled to right to put runners at the corners.

Sifferlen headed for second early, forcing Tewksbury pitcher Ronnie Wallace to step off the mound and make a quick throw to second. Breeden made a mad dash to home and just beat the throw to the plate.

"My brother (Scott, who coaches for Fisher College) came down to our practice and put that play in," said Dulin. "We certainly had the two right guys on base for that."

With Sifferlen now on second, first baseman Gary Lunetta lined a single to right to score the go-ahead run.

Alert baserunning produced North Andover's first run of the game, in the second inning.

Taylor Livingston reached second with a one-out double to the gap in left center and advanced to third on Brett Ringland's infield hit. Della Rocca then hit a short pop-up into right field which was chased down by Tewksbury second baseman Bobby Burns, who caught the ball with his back to the infield.

Livington (2 for 3) alertly tagged and raced home for a 1-0 lead.

"Taylor isn't the fastest but he is a smart baseball player," said Dulin. "He read the play well."