Dave DiCenso made himself available for Game 7 of the North Shore Baseball League finals on just two days rest after pitching a complete-game shutout for Champions. The Swampscott Sox wish he never came to that decision.
DiCenso came on in relief in the first inning and allowed only one run the rest of the way, which enabled Champions to come from behind to defeat the Sox, 6-4, and capture the series with a Game 7 victory.
DiCenso threw 62âÑ3 innings, struck out four, walked six and hit a batter. He wasn't dominant but he was good enough to keep the Swampscott bats at bay while his offense chipped away.
"We started someone with control problems (Swampscott scored three runs on walks in the first inning) and Dave did an unbelievable job," Champions coach Steve Gridley said. "Game 7 everybody is available, but he came to me and said that he would start, relieve or whatever. He slammed the door on Swampscott in the first inning and kept it shut."
DiCenso had a great postseason, throwing 202âÑ3 innings and allowing only one run.
Champions trailed 3-0 and 4-1 before coming back. It left the bases loaded in the second and third inning and stranded two in both the fourth and fifth innings, scoring just two runs in the process.
Champions then scored twice in the sixth to tie the game, 4-4, and added two more for the win in the seventh.
Brian Marshall led off the sixth with a double and Garrett Greer reached on an error. Zack Keenan then hit a sacrifice fly and another run scored on Derek Lyons' fielder's choice.
In the seventh, Jon Blodgett beat out a single and two more hits followed to load the bases. The two winning runs scored on an infield error.
"The game was a little sloppy, but it was fun to watch," Gridley said. "We've played them in the finals in 2002, 2004, 2006 and now 2008 and all of those series went seven games. It's what we play for. It's an intense matchup and chippy at times, but after it's over, it's over. It's fun playing those guys. They got us in 2006, so it was nice to even the playing field and come back and win Game 7."
Marshall and Greer each had three hits for Champions, while Blodgett contributed two for Champions, which has won seven of the last 10 NSBL finals.
"We don't want to play anybody else (for the title) and I'm sure they feel the same way," Gridley said. "It's an evenly matched series and they're a great team."
