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OK, I’m back from a short blog hiatus …

Apr 29th, 2009 by Hector Longo

The wonderful folks in the Riverside-Bradford Little League saddled Ollie Longo’s 9-10-year-old Rockies with a tough chore, 4 games in 5 days, so I’ve had little or no time to get blog-errific.
Can I just say for the record that the 5th and 6th innings of 9-10 baseball is the greatest advertisement for lacrosse in the history of advertisement?
I was a busy guy.
But back to the real stuff, the local baseball scene.
How about Lawtown today with Victor Mendez knocking off Andover and John Farrell in a 1-0 pitcher’s classic.
The difference?
Juan Ventura’s bomb off Farrell, one of just four hits all day, found the gap.
Andover’s John Hennessey similarly smothered a Mendez heater, deep into the alley, only to have extra bases snatched away on a sweet running catch by Ventura.
And that was it. It was all pitching.
Interesting gamble by the Lancer staff, saving Yunior Vasquez for Dracut Friday, and Mendez delivered the opportunity for what could be a week sweep.
Lawrence is now a sparkling 8-2. Wow.
But again, the Lancers have players. Harvey Blanco, player. Tito Lluberes, player. Mike Calzetta, player. Devin Montanez, player. Jose Sandoval, player. The Dio and Gio show, players.
And Vasquez is throwing flames. Look out in D1, folks.
With all due respect to the surprising Hillies, who are keeping pace with Lawrence, and Dracut and Lowell, I have to consider the Lancers the best public school in the MVC right now.
Of course, as we stated, Marc Pelletier’s Central Raiders are in a class by themselves.

I’ll catch up much more on the baseball scene in the coming days.

I’d like to finish tonight’s entry with a quick point on my recent Eagle-Tribune column on the Mount Vernon influence on coaching in the region.
A couple of the local folks reminded me of some other Lawrence coaching names from the era that I may have missed. I meant no slight to any of them, just there were so many to note.

Another Mount Vernon guy, John Delaney, had done a great job with the North Shore Tech baseball program until being forced out there. He’s now on a great staff at Masco with North Andover’s Mike Valentino.
Some others I could/should have tossed in from the 80s: Prospect Hill’s Jay Santomassino, now over at Greater Lawrence Tech and Martha (Reusch) Tatro, now over at Methuen; Tower Hill’s Sergio Rijo, also coaching hoop at the Reggies; and South Lawrence’s Erin O’Connell at the Governor’s Academy.
So thanks and we’ll see you guys at the game.

Posted in Uncategorized | Comments

  • Jim Arnold
    Lawrence looked real good vs Andover.
    Crisp 1-0 games are OK by me.
    Not many hard hit balls, with that pitching on both sides.

    The Lawrence Tourney at season's end could be critical for all, given the way things are playing out.

    The last week's good weather has helped to better gauge who has what.
    Lots of pitching in the MVC.
    But who has the depth, come tourney time and 9 inning games.
  • Liz
    Just a quick heads up it was Juan Ventura who made the great catch, Montanez was on the bench yesterday. The Lancers are off and running but the season is far from over. A quick fact though, the Lancers didn't take any gamble throwing Victor Mendez he was up in the rotation and has proved himself in earlier games.
  • Mike
    Saw the game yesterday and the kid from Lawrence pitched very well. He used the inside corner of the plate with his curve(looked like a few cutters as well or didn't turn over?) and mixed in his fastball. I' ve watched a few Andover games this year and they are very weak with the bats and the fielding has been suspect at times. In yesterdays game the third baseman has to field the ball or at least knock it down. Same type of hit the following inning to Lawrence second baseman and he makes the play(difference between winning and losing). If they are going to go anywhere( or even make) the tourney they have to make plays like that an hit that caliber of pitching.

    Lawrence is and always has been a good Fastball hitting team. The only thing that will hold them back will be defense as they tend to hurt themselves. I like their team.. alot of athletes and they really enjoy playing the game as a Team.
  • Rich
    Wish Andover had Lawerence defense, sometimes it look ok other times it looks like bad new bears.
  • John
    Hector, Haverhill got smoked yesterday however thehad to pitch their 5th and 6th pitchers on the dept chart. Do't know if you heard but T-Rob pitched the 6th inning. heard it was no hits 1k no runs, heard he looked good. what have you heard?
  • tom landry
    Hector central draws from how many cities and towns they should be in a class by themselves (like a catholic conference), but seriously with the kind of talent cchs has had over the years talk about underacheiving, but I hope you eat crow when lawrence beats central next week
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