By Jean DePlacido
Correspondent
May 09, 2008 09:21 pm Jean DePlacido When Matt Savage first started playing lacrosse in the seventh grade, he was also playing baseball. It wasn't until he got to Peabody High that he had to make a decision. Savage chose lacrosse — and Mount Ida College is glad he did. Savage, a freshman and one of several Peabodyites on the team, scored six goals to help power Mount Ida to a 16-9 victory over Castleton State in the North Atlantic Conference lacrosse championship game last weekend. It was the fifth straight NAC title coach Andrew Fink's Mustangs. After starring at Peabody High for four years, Savage's lacrosse skills have translated well at the college level. "I was really more serious about baseball at first," said Savage, who was an fine hockey player for the Tanners until suffering a hip injury in his junior year. "I gave up hockey and concentrated on lacrosse, but I know hockey helps my (lacrosse) game, especially shooting. "I really didn't expect to step right in this year because I had some pretty big shoes to fill, taking over for a senior who graduated and had 50 points. But my team is awesome, and the chemistry is great. It was a real fun season." Savage was chosen NAC Rookie of the Week and named to the All-Tournament Team. He played in every game for Mount Ida this season, scoring 33 goals and seven assists for 40 points. The conference championship win was well earned for Mount Ida. "It was a lot more difficult than we thought it would be. Castleton came to play," said junior attackman Leo Shidler of Peabody, who scored a pair of goals and is now just six away from the magic 100-goal mark for his career. "We played the game in the pouring rain and the field was pretty wet and muddy, but it was a fun game. We beat Castleton, 10-2 earlier in the season, but they were much improved." Shidler finished up with 26 goals, including two game-winners, and added 28 assists for 54 total points. Three former Peabody High players — Shidler, Savage, and sophomore long stick midfielder Kevin Mulvey — were all named Second Team Conference all-stars. "Savage has been a really good addition to our team," said Shidler. "In fact, all the Peabody guys contributed. "We were pretty pumped up after winning the championship. It has been a very good year for the program, especially the huge win we had over Colorado College at the start of the season." Shidler scored the game-winner in overtime to power the Mustangs to a huge upset win over host Colorado College in March. Winning the NAC gave them an automatic bid to the NCAAs. In the first round earlier this week they traveled to Brunswick, Maine to take on NESCAC champ Bowdoin. The Polar Bears, making their first-ever NCAA appearance, ended the season for the Mustangs, 11-5, despite two goals by Savage. Mount Ida kept it close, trailing 4-3 at intermission before Bowdoin came alive in the second half. Mount Ida was 13-6 overall and 7-0 in conference play. Other Peabody players on the team are freshman midfielder Derek Broughton and sophomore defenseman Bryan Seaman. Senior midfielder Luke Philip Wilson is from Essex and played for Ipswich High. nnn The Trinity College baseball team ran the table, completing a remarkable baseball season in which they went unbeaten (34-0) in the regular season. In the process, the Bantams set a new NCAA Division 3 mark, breaking the old record of 33 set by Johns Hopkins. Trinity became the first Division 3 school in the modern era to go through the regular season without a single setback. Senior Tim Kiely of Swampscott was unbeaten on the mound for the Bantams, going 8-0. In 62 innings, he allowed just a dozen runs (10 earned) and 47 hits with a meager one walk — you read that right: one walk— while striking out 66. Former St. John's Prep star centerfielder Matt Sullivan of North Reading hit . 376 with 15 RBIs. The Bantams scored 323 runs while allowing only 81. They won four one-run games, a pair of two-run decisions, and took 24 by five or more runs. They won in extra innings three times and recorded nine shutouts. Next up for Trinity is hosting the NESCAC Tournament this weekend. If they win, it will be on to Harwich for the Division 3 Regional Championship with the winner advancing to Appleton, Wisc. for the national finals. nnn Salem State baseball coach Ken Perrone will miss his three seniors who hail from Peabody next season. The versatile Bobby Celentano finished up an illustrious career for the Vikings with an All-MASCAC First Team selection. The past two years he was named to the Second Team — and did so playing three different positions. He began his college career as an outfielder, switched to shortstop as a junior and played second base this season. "It was a good year for us (SSC went 25-15) even though we didn't win the conference," said Celentano, who is planning to take the summer off from baseball. "I played first base, left field, center, shortstop, and second base this season — just about everywhere but pitcher." Celentano hit .312 with 25 RBIs, nine doubles, two triples and two homers. The other two former Tanners on the team also made major contributions. Anthony Palmieri hit .325 with 31 RBIs, 16 doubles, a triple and four homers. The lefty also had a .581 slugging percentage. In addition, Matt Mello, who was primarily used as a designated hitter, batted .393 with seven RBIs. The three of them have been friends since playing together on Peabody's 14-year old Babe Ruth World Champions. "Anthony had a solid year both at the plate and defensively. He had some big hits," said Celentano. "And Matt had to be the best DH in the country. I think he was 9-for-16 (.563), which is just unbelievable."
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