DANVERS — Let’s just say, it might be time to retire the trophy.
The Peabody West 11-year-old All-Star team captured its fourth straight Stan Brown Jamboree championship Friday night in a real barnburner, defeating host Danvers National, 9-8, in seven innings.
The win capped a wildly successful summer for West, which won the District 16 tournament, only to be eliminated in the state tournament at the Section 4 tournament (1-2 in pool play).
“I’d say that, overall, this was a very successful summer for the boys,” said manager Phil Ragusa. “We won our district, came up just a little short in the sectionals, but then bounced back to win the Stan Brown for the fourth straight year. Winning that tournament is not that easy as there are always some good teams in the tournament and it’s always a close game every time we meet up with Danvers National.”
Trailing 8-7 going into the bottom of the seventh inning, West scored two runs to flip the script, the big hits being a game-tying RBI single from Luke Pelletier (scoring Luca Mosca) and game-winning walk-off single from Reid Ruffing (1-for-3), scoring Logan Dresser (walk).
Adam Grant started and pitched 3 and ⅔ innings. Owen Skerry pitched 2 and ⅓ innings and Ruffing closed out the win with one inning pitched.
The road to the championship began in the single-elimination bracket with a 4-3 win over Melrose and a 10-3 win over Ipswich to set up the finale.
Leo Pietrosanto led West’s 10-hit attack with two hits and one run scored, while Cam Segee (1-for-3) scored two runs. Nick Dattoli (1-for-3), Bryce Ragusa (1-for-2), Grant (1-for-2, walk), Logan Latorella (1-for-3), Mosca, and Parker Santos (1-for-2, walk) scored one run each. Pelletier (1-for-2, walk) and Tyler Deamelio (walk) also contributed at the plate.
Phil Ragusa said he was proud of the way every member of the team competed all summer long.
“As a coach, I could not be more proud of the way the team competed in those close games and never gave up,” he said.
