ICL drops EMABC championship game to Cranberry League 8-2

Boston – The Cranberry League won its second Eastern Mass Amateur Baseball Classic with an 8-2 win over the Intercity League at BC High’s Monan Park on Saturday evening.

 

This was the third time the two leagues have met in the Championship game and the first time the ICL has lost the Championship game.

The Cranberries struck first scoring two in the third as Mike Muir (walk) and Jordan Enos (fielder’s choice) each scored on a double by Bryant Salkind. Salkind had his second two-run double in the fourth earning the tourney MVP with his 2-for-3, two doubles, and record-tying four RBI.

Meanwhile Cranberry hurlers Dan Southerland, Connor Birch and Will Gallagher held the ICL without a hit for the first 4 and 2/3 innings. Bobby Losano (Wakefield) broke the no-hitter with a sharp base hit to left with two outs in the fifth. A wild pitch put Losano in scoring position. He then scored on John Jennings (Melrose) double, that just missed being a home run, to left to cut the lead to 5-1.

In the sixth, Matt Nuzzo (Chiefs) blasted a home run to left over the wall to cut the lead to 5-2. That was the last run the ICL would score.

Monan Park is also known, as little Fenway as it has the same outfield dimensions as Fenway Park. It does have a wall (fence and netting) from leftfield to center, but it is not as long or as high as the one at “big” Fenway.

Borja Jones-Berasaluce (Lexington) took the loss for the ICL. In his one inning of work, the third, he gave up the first two Cranberry runs on two hits and two walks. He also struck out a batter.

The Cranberry knocked out 16 hits, lead by Dan Cook with three and also two runs scored.  Salkind and Nick Droukas each had two hits for the CBL.

Connor Birch picked up the win pitching the third and fourth innings for the CBL. He allowed no hits, but did walk three and struck out won.

The ICl is now 7-4 in the tournament’s history. Improving to 8-5 the CBL takes over the top spot for wins in tournament history.