Saugus comes up short in close games

  Despite having just one victory three quarters of the way through the 2023 campaign, the Saugus High School baseball team could have had four or five more wins had things gone a bit differently in some of their games. Two recent defeats were a perfect example of how a good deal of the season has played out for the young Sachems.

  Late leads didn’t hold up in a 10-8 home loss to Triton on Monday at World Series Park and a tough-to-swallow 3-2 setback at Salem last Friday. In the Triton game, the Sachems let a 5-0 lead after three innings fade away. The visitors tallied 10 times over the final four frames to come out on top. Saugus owned an 8-7 advantage after scoring three times in the bottom of the sixth to retake the lead. But Triton rallied for three in the top of the seventh for the eventual two-run triumph.

  Offensively, it was one of the most productive performances of the season for the Sachems. Nathan Soroko and Cam Soroko each had two hits and a combined three RBIs, while Connor Bloom collected two hits and Tyler Riley stroked a double. Also contributing hits were Jordan Rodriguez, Shane Bourque and Danny Zeitz.

  In last Friday’s loss at Salem, Saugus held a 2-1 lead entering the bottom of the seventh before the host Witches walked it off with two runs. Riley had two hits and Cam Soroko and Nathan Soroko drove in the Sachems’ runs. Pitchers Cam Soroko, Cam Bernard and Zeitz combined to allow the three runs on just five hits.

  Another close defeat took place on Tuesday at home, as the Sachems were shut out, 2-0, against Peabody. Saugus was held to four hits by Peabody pitching. Meanwhile, Bernard put forth a strong effort on the mound for the hosts, going the distance and giving up six hits and one earned run. He struck out six batters.

  A 15-5 loss at Marblehead last Wednesday and an 11-1 setback at home to Stoneham last Saturday added to Saugus’s 1-14 overall record as of early this week. Bernard got the start in the makeup against Stoneham and struggled a bit before Riley replaced him in the middle innings.

  The Sachems took on Danvers at home on Thursday and travel to play Northeast Metro Tech on Monday, May 15. After that, they play at Winthrop on Wednesday, May 17.