LAWRENCE – The ping of aluminum striking baseball in the background rang loud and clear.
One day after his Lawrence High baseball team suffered the tough, 9-0, Division 1 Round of 32 loss to MVC rival, North Andover, Will Carrasco was back on a baseball diamond. He had to be.
Carrasco would much rather have been with his Lancers, again at practice, but Dylan Lawrence and the Knights had the final say on that one. Monday, on the field, was a loss, but the day and Carrasco’s first season at the Lancer helm were smashing wins.
Devlin Field was ringed with people. Lancer baseball is back, and the community came out to support.
“That felt an awful lot like the basketball crowds from back when I was around,” said Carrasco, a proud Lancer three-sport alum. “And I’ve got to tell you, that felt pretty good.
“The kids feel that. We all feel that. And it was good to see the people out there to support the boys.”
To be honest, Lawrence High needed a baseball season like this. Between the Lancers bringing home MVC goal on the diamond and track studs like Cristian Reinoso and Argenis Luciano grabbing statewide acclaim, it’s been a rock-solid spring.
“It felt good to have some positive light shed on the athletic department,” said Carrasco.
“It was a good spring for the athletic department and for the school. And the track boys are still going. We’ll be rooting for them at all-states. It was just a really good way to end the school year.”
Carrasco, who works in the school, is clearly the right guy for the job.
Lawrence is responding to him.
On Monday there were more notable names and faces there to support than you’ve seen in years.
“We had to be here to support Will,” said former Central Catholic hoop-football legend and currently one of the rising stars in high school hoop coaching ranks at Masco, Jaycob Morales.
“He does it the right way, and he’s there for these kids.”
Former Orioles minor leaguer Dennis Torres was there, too.
“I’m here for Will. He’s the man!” said Torres.
Andover, Central Catholic, North Andover – all three programs are MVC baseball power players, year in and year out. They have talent, tradition and rich history.
But when Lawrence matters, it makes the conference that much better. And the Lancers are at the top again, not going anywhere.
“They have a great young team. They’re going to be nasty next year,” said North Andover coach Todd Dulin. “They have pretty much everyone back.”