By Matt Williams
Staff writer
July 19, 2008 12:00 am BEVERLY — The beginning of last night's Little League Williamsport All-Star Sectional between District 15 champion Peabody West and District 16 champion Wyoma of Lynn was entirely in favor of the boys from the Tanner City. The ending, however, won't be written until this afternoon. Rain and lightning suspended the contest with Peabody West ahead, 4-0, in the top of the fourth inning. Play resumes today at Harry Ball Field at 1:30 p.m. Peabody West pitcher Tyler Noe was in the midst of a no-hitter when lightning on the horizon stopped play. Wyoma was threatening, though, as Noe had thrown 10 straight balls and walked the bases loaded. The squads will pick up exactly where they left off in the top of the fourth with the bases loaded for Wyoma. Noe, however, won't be on the hill because Little League pitch-count rules stipulate that a player throwing more than 40 pitches in a suspended game cannot return the next day. Noe had thrown 59 pitches (32 strikes). Those rules put both Peabody West and Wyoma in precarious position going forward in the double-elimination Section 4 tournament. After finishing the suspended game today, the loser plays Billerica American in an elimination game at 4:30, and the winner faces Stoneham at 7:30. (Stoneham beat Billerica in last night's first contest). No player can pitch in more than one game on a given day, meaning Peabody and Wyoma will have to go deep into their pitching staffs. The situation will be even tougher for Wyoma. Ace Cam O'Neill left last night's game with an elbow injury in the first inning. On his eighth pitch of night, O'Neill winced in pain as the baseball sailed to the backstop. It allowed Noe, who had singled and advanced on a Travis Jacques bunt and a fielder's choice, to cross the plate and make it 1-0. O'Neill's injury forced Wyoma to bring in Lucas Harris, who also won't be able to return to the mound after tossing 45 pitches in relief (23 strikes). In the third, the Westerners Ryan McManus sent the first pitch he saw in his first bat clear over the center field fence for a three-run shot that put Peabody on top 4-0. Frankie Lowry (HBP) and Matt Hosman (walk) scored on McManus' round-tripper. The homer appeared to be all the support Noe would need. He cruised through the first three innings, allowing only one baserunner on a walk in the third. After retiring the first two batters of the fourth with ease, Noe issued a free pass to Wyoma's Katie Burt. He then walked back-to-back hitters on eight straight balls to load the bases. With Peabody West needing just one out to escape unscathed and Wyoma's Eric Brazell stepping to the plate, lightning struck and play was suspended. After nearly an hour and with rain steadily falling as the teams mulled in their respective dugouts, tournament officials decided to call it night and resume the game today.
—
Copyright © 1999-2008 cnhi, inc.
Photos
Peabody West starter Tyler Noe was throwing a no-hitter through 32/3 innings last night before rain forced the suspension of the game until 1:30 p.m. today at Harry Ball Field. Staff photo