Newton North 3, Weymouth 1: One-hit wonderful

With Sean Mullaney's pitch count already topping 100, Newton North baseball coach Joe Siciliano approached the right-hander in the top of the eighth and told him he was going to bring in reliever Tim Abbot for the final two innings.

Mullaney respectfully disagreed. His arm felt fine and, more importantly, he wanted to finish what he started. It took a little prying but the coach finally gave in.

``Yeah, he convinced me,'' Siciliano admitted afterward.

The senior didn't disappoint, pitching two flawless frames to cap what was undoubtedly his best outing of the year. Mullaney gave up just one run on one hit, while striking out five, to lead the Tigers (9-7, 8-5 Bay State Conference) past Weymouth (9-9, 6-8 BSC) 3-1 in a Saturday matinee at Albermarle Playground.
With the clock ticking on his high school career, Mullaney said there was a sense of urgency when he took the mound Saturday.

``We had to get that `W,''' he said. ``I had to come with my best stuff. I haven't had it all season. (Saturday) was the first time.''

The Tigers staked Mullaney to a 2-0 lead in the fourth inning. First baseman Billy Uberti led off with a long double. With one out, third baseman Devin Perry struck out on a pitch that bounced in the dirt, but the catcher's throw to first sailed into right field, allowing Uberti to score. Second baseman Lenny Tocci followed with a two-out single to plate Perry.

``I had two strikes and I wasn't trying to kill it,'' Tocci said. ``I was just trying to drive in a run and I hit it up the middle.''

Weymouth cut the lead in half in the fifth on a RBI single by Dan Thornz, but that was as close as it would get against Mullaney, who spotted his fastball and mixed in a curveball that Siciliano said was ``unbelievable'' at times.

``He's commanding his pitches much better than he was earlier in the season,'' Siciliano said.

Weymouth coach Tony Green certainly came away impressed.

``(Mullaney) kept us thinking up there,'' Green said. ``We had trouble staying focused because he did a nice job of changing speeds and moving the ball up and down in the zone, and he had good control.''

Mullaney also had a good defense behind him. Shortstop Kyle Ross and Tocci turned two 6-4-3 double plays and Perry started a 5-4-3 double play in the seventh. Tocci also made a diving catch on a line drive in the ninth.

``It was definitely (Mullaney's) best performance and we just wanted to help him out,'' Tocci said.

The Tigers scored once more in the sixth on a two-out RBI single by center fielder Jared Plotkin. While they struggled offensively for much of the afternoon, with the way Mullaney was pitching, it didn't matter.

``We're starting to get it,'' Mullaney said. ``All three (phases of the game) are coming together.''

With four games this week, including tonight at home against Wellesley (6 p.m.), North has put itself in good position to qualify for the postseason.

``They've got the talent, the kids work hard, they're on a roll,'' Green said. ``They should be fine.''