LAWRENCE – Back in April, Dylan Lawrence smothered Lawrence High for five innings, but the Lancers spoiled the North Andover ace’s day after the lefty left, piling on five in the sixth and five more in the seventh against the Knight bullpen.
In Monday’s Division 1 Round of 32 battle, Lawrence didn’t afford Lawrence High the opportunity to rally.
The Knights’ lefty owned the afternoon, striking out 10 in a complete-game shutout as North Andover, which lost both regular-season battles to the Lancers, ultimately dominated the war, 9-0.
“I think that’s his fifth shutout this year. He’s been nasty since about halfway through last year,” said Knights’ coach Todd Dulin of his 6-and-1 southpaw.
The 20th-seeded Knights move to 17-6 on the year and head to King Philip High School of Wrentham for a Wednesday Round of 16 battle with the fourth-seeded Warriors.
Lawrence, the MVC1 co-champion, closes out the year at 13-8.
As good as he was on the hill, Lawrence took the Lancers out of it early with his bat, stinging a two-run double in the first and adding an RBI single in the second. Zach Faro and Michael Phelps also had run-producing hits and North Andover led 7-0 through two.
With Lawrence dealing, that was plenty.
“I’ve been pitching well all season, so I was thinking the whole time, don’t do anything differently. It’s a little more important at this time, but just keep everything the same,” said Lawrence. “Definitely, the 20 seed might have helped as a little bit, give us that little edge to prove people wrong. That was a statement game. We’re here to make a run.”