That’s probably what Marc Pelletier and the Central Raiders would like to know Thursday morning as they pass the hours of the school day in anticipation of the afternoon showdown at Merrimack.
Maglio and Andover currently stand at 8-7, with today’s game against Central, Friday’s with Methuen, a Tuesday date with Cambridge and two games in the Lawrence Invitational.
Maglio has a taxed pitching staff, having played two games already with back-to-backs up next.
Will he do Lowell High a favor and throw William and Mary-bound John Farrell at Central today? Or will he try patchwork with the Raiders and hold Farrell, who pitched on Saturday, for Methuen Friday.
Mags’ crew needs two more wins to become the team nobody wants to see in the first round of the Division 1 North tourney.
It should be interesting.
After two flat-out chillers, at 10-inning loss with Chelmsford on Monday and last night’s 5-3 tango with Lawrence, Central could use a walkover kind of win.
You know Farrell will be begging for the baseball. He’s a gamer. But would it be prudent?
We find out today.
By the way, Central will answer with either Zack Lattrell or lefty Brian Wolfendale according to coach Marc Pelletier.
On that front, Lawrence High coach Brendan Neilon left himself open for a shot by coming with Yunior Vasquez, on three days rest, in relief in the fifth. Not that he was a bad choice. It’s just that my schedule has the Lancers heading to Dracut Friday with a chance to lock up an MVC small title.
Mike Calzetta pitched Monday, so he’d be available on three days rest Friday, but Vasquez, who went seven vs. the Hillies Saturday, would have been fresh.
We shall see.
Wasn’t a great performance by Central, which had trouble making plays in the field … four errors …
Clutch hitting, I’m thinking Matt Pelletier and Andrew Guyer especially there, and some truly gritty mound work by Brendan Walsh.
Great, great atmosphere. Lots of kids, lots of excitement.
A great pre-cursor to the Memorial Day weekend Lawrence Invitational.
It ended yesterday, but please read my column in Thursday’s Eagle-Tribune on Londonderry shortstop Kyle Neverman.
The kid is a classy individual, headed to Johns Hopkins for engineering, and had a 34-game hits streak snapped by Exeter.
I’ve been hawking the local ball scene since the early 90s and that (34) is a number that stands out as the best of that entire period.
Neverman is a ball-player man. Congrats to him for a great run and good luck the rest of the way.
Quickie fantastic four update:
1. Central … Beating Lawrence was huge but the Raiders have to finish the job the next two days to hang here.
2. Londonderry … Clearly the top threat to challenge Trinity in the Class L playoffs.
3. Lawrence … Sorry, fellas. I would have thrown Yunior vs. the Hillies, Victor against Tewks and Calzetta last night vs. Central.
4. North Andover … These guys will be my pick to win D2 North.
