Crusaders Rout Fitchburg

Senior catcher John Flanagan led the way going 4 for 4 with seven RBIs as host Groton-Dunstable (3-1) crushed Fitchburg, 15-0. Doug Smith (WP) and sophomore Alex Dhionis shared pitching honors as the pair combined to no-hit the Red Raiders (0-3) in the game that was stopped after four and one half innings.

But it wasn't easy for Smith who had to pitch out of bases loaded trouble in the first and second innings. "I did not have good stuff early and really had to battle to get out of the mess," said Smith who settled down nicely in the third, striking out the heart of the Fitchburg line-up in order.

In the bottom of the first, a walk and two hit batters by Raiders pitcher Dillon DiGeronimo loaded the bases for Flanagan who knocked in the first two runs with his first hit of the afternoon. A pair of sac-flies from Josh Acaba and Mike Keating followed and Fitchburg trailed 4-0.

GD batted around in the third, plating eight runs with RBI's from Acaba, Keating and, oh yes Flanagan, whose single and double to deep right center in his second trip to the plate in the inning, accounted for five more runs batted in. Nice afternoon, John!

Fitchburg's Tim Burke relieved DiGeronimo with one out in third but it did not help.

"I've been seeing the ball really well lately," said Flanagan. "I try to stay relaxed, do the small things and concentrate on my mechanics." The ball must have looked as big as a watermelon for John who went 6 for 7 in the team's two wins last week.

Josh Acaba had two hits and an RBI, and Mike Keating added three RBIs.

"He (Smith) had to work hard but showed some character, getting the job done after getting into trouble," said varsity coach Matt LeBlanc. "We had a lot of guys hitting well and we were able to extend the lead."