Navigators Notes
By Shanna McCarriston
First Playoff Look
Last week the talk was all about a possible playoff run and this week the Navigators are in full playoff mode. Their first playoff game came Sunday and they faced the Brockton Rox. The Navigators earned the number four seed and therefor a first round playoff home game, so Navs fans were able to see their team in person and close to home!
Speros Verinos of Tuffs University has played exceptionally since joining the team and on Sunday played eight innings and allowed no runs. Brian Burke took over in the 9th inning and kept the excellent pitching trend by retiring the Rox in short order and recording a strikeout while doing so.
The Navigators took control on offense as well scoring five runs in the game. Nick DiBenedetto drove in the first run with a single RBI allowing Christian Cabrera to score and put the Lynn team up in the 2nd inning. That inning proved to be crucial in the win as that is where the Navigators got all five of their runs. This 5-0 win allowed the Lynn based team to move on to the semi-finals round of the playoffs.
After a 1-12 start to the season the Navigators were able to improve showing just how much work Navigators manager John Zizzo and the team have put in. The team was not without obstacles but the players who remain with the team put in the hours to allow themselves to be in a playoff position. Many players I spoke to during the course of the season talked about how the team chemistry has progressed as the summer went on and as the players got to know each other. Whether this season ends in a FCBL (Future’s League Baseball League) Championship or not the players can hold their head’s high knowing the dedication was worth it and their team was successful.