NORTH ANDOVER – When Michael Phelps stepped up to the plate in the bottom of the sixth against Lawrence High, he knew what was at stake.
With North Andover fighting towars the top of the standings in Merrimack Valley Conference, the Scarlet Knights needed a clutch hit from Phelps.
On Monday, Phelps delivered, driving in two game-tying runs with a single, en route to a 6-3 comeback victory for North Andover High.
The win clinches at least a share of the MVC title for North Andover, an impressive turnaround from a down year in 2023.
North Andover can claim sole ownership of the title with a win on Wednesday against Central Catholic or next week vs. Lowell. Central fell to Chelmsford, 5-0, on Monday, putting North Andover (10-3 MVC) up two games with two to play.
“We had such a young team last year, and we just weren’t physically strong enough to hang in the MVC but they bought in over this past offseason,” said Knights coach Todd Dulin. “Michael has matured so much since last year when he was a freshman, it’s really amazing.”
“I went down two balls to one strike, so I was just telling myself, the next good pitch I see, I’m drilling it,” said Phelps. “It feels great to come out here and win as a team.”
The Lancers struck first, taking the lead in the top of the second, with two deep doubles from their most powerful hitters, David Manon and Malvin Jimenez.
In the third, Lawrence was able to pile on two more runs, finding runners on second and third to begin the inning.
Will Perez first drove in Jhon Hidalgo with a sacrifice fly, followed up by Angel Castillo doing the same, driving in Jose David Abreu.
Dulin stressed the importance of finding some offense at the start of the sixth, and the Scarlet Knights responded.
David Johnson drove in the first run of the inning with a single, before Phelps tied things up at 3-3 with his two-run hit. Then, Jeff LaVolpicelo scored on a wild pitch, before Colin Howard drove in a run, followed by Troy Takesian scoring on a wild pitch.
“Last year wasn’t great, but we got a ton of experience,” said Dylan Lawrence, who ultimately got the win for North Andover. “We had plenty of returners, which definitely helped, but the work we put into the off-season paid off today, and this season as a whole.”
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