Lincoln-Sudbury picks it up

“When you come out and struggle like that, it’s not always a good time,’’ Ravenelle said. “I was just trying to be too sharp with my pitches rather than attacking the strike zone like I did all year.’’

The Warriors (24-4) scored the bulk of their runs in the top of the second inning as they capitalized on three errors by Minnechaug and strung together seven hits for an early 7-0 lead.

Junior shortstop Dan Cellucci, who led the Dual County League with a .542 average, went 3 for 5 with an RBI and three runs.

“I had a tough game the past few games, I wasn’t fielding well,’’ Cellucci said. “I couldn’t sleep and I wanted to bring my best and I tried.’’

Though Ravenelle struggled on the mound, he also went 3 for 5 with two RBIs.

“I love coming in and helping out,’’ Ravenelle said. “If I can’t do it on the mound, I love doing it with the bat. It’s always nice to pick up myself and pick up the team because I let them down letting those runs in.’’

Ravenelle’s troubles began from the get-go as he threw 12 of his first 18 pitches for balls, including back-to-back four-pitch walks.

The DCL’s top pitcher appeared to settle down with a 1-2-3 second inning, but after a leadoff single and a hit batsman, he gave up back-to-back walks to senior Corey Polom and junior Gregory Heineman to force in a run. Minnechaug made it 7-2 when senior Kevin Sugarmeyer hit a sacrifice fly.

After Ravenelle gave up a leadoff single in the fourth, he was replaced by McGavick, who gave up just one hit.

“Coaches tell us to be ready for any situation at any time,’’ McGavick said. “This time it just so happened to be the state championship game. I just tried to throw strikes with the big lead and let the defense do the work and get us off the field.’’

The Warriors added two runs in the fourth and scored their final run in the sixth on an RBI single from senior Keith Anderson. Junior Matt Cahill pitched the last two innings for L-S without surrendering a hit.

“Matt Cahill has been doing what he did there all tournament long,’’ said Fredericks, who won his second state title (also 2007).

“One of the good things about our staff is we complement each other very well. With the kids, it’s just confidence. It’s the senior and junior class we have, the confidence they have in each other is unbelievable.’’