By SCOT COOPER
LYNN — In a District 16 all-star tournament elimination game, Lynn Shore’s John Diaz and pitcher Yordy Contreras made sure their team would play on.
The pair led the way to a 14-2 rout over Saugus National Saturday afternoon at Kiley Park.
Lynn Shore (1-1) was designated the visitors, and wasted no time getting on Saugus National pitcher Dylan Santoro, scoring six runs before he gave way to Mark MacEachern.
Trailing 6-0 in the bottom of the first, Saugus National came back with two when Tyler Santoro homered with MacEachern aboard. Shore got those runs back when Diaz hit his first homer of the game to make it 8-2 in the second.
Contreras singled home Chanel Gutierrez in the third, and Lynn Shore added four in the fourth, including Diaz’s second shot, this one with Doran Benzan ahead of him. Diaz said it was great to hit the homers; the first two he hit all season.
“I have to thank all of my coaches, (Ryan Gendron and Mark Sullivan) for helping me to become a good hitter,” Diaz said. “I think I knew the first one was going to go out when I hit it.”
Diaz had a very big day, going 3-for-3 and knocking in five. Contreras pitched another solid game as well.
Hartford was very happy his team was able to bounce back after their tough loss in the tournament opener.
“I think this game showed us that we are a good team after that late loss against Swampscott,” Hartford said. “This win is a big confidence booster for our team, we’re still alive and we’ve got a big one with Saugus American coming up next (at Saugus National Thursday 5:45).”
Contreras was big at the dish too, with three hits and three RBI. Jaiden Madden, Benzan and Gutierrez each had a hit and drove in a run, Stanley Rodriguez knocked in two and Isaiah McDonald drove one in with a sacrifice fly.
Contreras whiffed three, and only allowed two hits, singles by Connor Gagne and MacEachern after giving up two runs in the first.
The loss eliminated the Nats, and it was the last game for manager Santoro and coach Mark MacEachern. Santoro said it was a rough start Saturday that did his team in.
“The first inning was tough, we couldn’t get an out for a while, we gave it a good shot today, but we had a rough first inning,” Santoro said. “Coach Mark and I are riding off into the sunset, but we’ve both enjoyed every minute of our time with Saugus baseball.”
For MacEachern, who started playing ball many years ago as a member of Lynn Shore Little League, it’s been a fun 23 years.
“It’s certainly been enjoyable, I have five boys, and some of the kids I see now are parents themselves now, their kids are now playing Little League,” MacEachern said. “It’s been a long haul, but exciting, with some really wonderful kids.”