SALEM — Pitching, defense, and timely hitting have served the Danvers National Little League Williamsport all-stars well through 11 games this summer, as their 10 victories will attest to.
Through two games of Section 4 competition, that formula has stayed true for the Nats, who now find themselves in excellent position to advance to Saturday’s championship game and the opportunity to play in the state’s Final Four next week in Beverly.
Behind another strong pitching performance by David Ambrozavitch, strong work in the field and six runs scored by the bottom six hitters in the lineup, Danvers National defeated Swampscott, 9-1, Thursday night at at O’Grady Field on Night 2 of sectional play.
“We’re in great shape,” said manager Ross Graham, whose team has outscored its two foes thus far in Section 4 play by a combined 20-4. “Our pitching is set up exactly the way we want it to be. Things have worked out really nicely for us so far.”
Ambrozavitch, a big right-hander with a heavy fastball and tricky curve, made sure of that. He came up one game short of a complete game before hitting the 85-pitch maximum, scattering six hits and one earned run while fanning nine batters.
Ty Gonzalez came over from third base to nail down the final out via strikeout.
Up 4-1 in the bottom of the fourth, Danvers National broke the contest open with five runs, all coming with two out. Parker Parente worked a bases loaded walk; No. 12 hitter Ethan Graham (2 runs scored) drove home a run when his bloop fell untouched between the pitcher and first base; leadoff man Reece Goehlert ripped a two-run single to center; and Graham scampered home after the ball was thrown away.
“We typically play really well defensively, so that was definitely uncharacteristic of us tonight,” Swampscott manager Mike Rossi said. His team is now 1-1 in sectional competition (3 runs for, 10 against) and probably needs to beat 0-2 Wakefield (a 7-6 loser to Peabody in Thursday’s other contest) Friday for the chance to advance to Saturday’s title contest.
“We threw the ball around in that inning they scored the five runs, and that ball that fell between two of our guys … that’s just baseball sometimes. Those things happen and you have to move on from them.”
Swampscott starting pitcher Archie Parker threw well for 3 1/3 innings before a comebacker hit him in the shoulder, and he was replaced by reliever Jax Dudevoir. Parker was thankfully fine; he came back in the game later to play third base.
Danvers National grabbed a 2-0 lead after one inning when Cal Arlander’s single to center brought home teammates Mateo Meeker and Jake Romsavich.
“Cal’s really been hitting the ball hard,” said Graham. “He had three RBI (Wednesday) and two more tonight; he’s contributing big time.”
The Nats doubled their advantage to 4-0 after three innings when back-to-back sacrifice flies to left field off the bats of Meeker and Romsavich scored Ethan Graham and Goehlert. Dudevoir made an excellent catch on the second of those, running far to his left and stabbing the ball before it fell in the gap.
Swampscott’s only run came in the top of the fourth when Danny Hall singled to left, took second on an infield hit by Dudevoir, and coasted into home after Owen Jordan’s booming two-out double to left-center.
Danny Demoulias added two hits for the winners, with Gonzalez and MJ Smith also hitting safely.
“Right now it’s so much about confidence,” said Danvers Nats manager Graham, whose team meets 1-1 Peabody Friday night. “These kids are so hungry, they’re attacking on the basepaths, doing what needs to be done defensively … they’re very well prepared.”
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