WHS head baseball coach Frank DeMarco had promised that his team would overcome their early season struggles and his words proved prophetic as the Vikings reeled off three straight triumphs this past week.
Winthrop parlayed timely hitting and a superb pitching performance from Anthony Hatzisavas en route to an 11-1 thumping of Peabody last Wednesday. Hatzi’ hurled all seven innings, allowing just four hits while fanning seven Tanners.
On the offensive side of the equation, freshman Dan Eruzione enjoyed a banner day, banging out four hits and stealing two bases. Nick McCarthy added some major damage with two hits, two runs scored, and three RBI. Teammate Chris LeBlanc belted a bases loaded triple that sent three Vikings scurrying home.
Two days later Winthrop had its way in a 12-5 triumph over Revere. McCarthy demonstrated why he is considered one of the top players in the Northeastern Conference with a five for five effort, including two doubles and four RBI.
Joe Boudrow had four hits, Tyler Pettee added a triple, and Dylan Piwinski delivered a game-changing hit with two outs in the fifth that drove in two runs to move the Vikings into a 6-5 lead that they never relinquished.
Boudrow started and went all the way to earn the victory, yielding nine hits and fanning three Patriots.
Sunday saw the Vikings avenge an earlier season defeat to a Bishop Fenwick team that is one of the top teams on the North Shore this season with a 9-2 record and which handed St. Mary’s of Lynn its first loss of the season on Monday. Winthrop fell behind early by a 3-0 margin, but scored twice in the fourth and thrice in the fifth to come away with a 5-3 victory. Mitch Paulsen was the primary force for Winthrop at the plate, driving in both runs in the fourth with a triple and accounting for another ribbie in the fifth with a sacrifice fly.
Michael Paulsen and Boudrow had two hits each and McCarthy, who played a perfect game defensively at second base, contributed a double. Justin Rowe tossed all seven innings, scattering nine hits and allowing just two earned runs, while fanning six enemy hitters. “J.†also had this impressive mound stat: Of his 81 pitches, 60 were strikes.
Although the Vikings’ win streak ended with a 7-1 loss Monday to a Beverly team that is among the top teams in the NEC, DeMarco is hopeful that his team has turned the corner. “We’ll be looking to keep the momentum going,†said the veteran coach. “We continue to work hard and have a positive attitude and if we play like we did this past week, we can beat anybody, which is what can be said of every team in the Northeastern Conference this season.â€
DeMarco and his Vikings hosted Lynn Classical yesterday (Wednesday) and entertain Salem tomorrow (Friday). They travel to Lynn English Monday and to Marblehead next Wednesday.