Auburn gets back at Flynn, Blue Eagles

Earlier this year, the Rockets got a little payback with a 7-3 win, but Flynn wasn't on the mound for Plymouth North in that contest.

On the same field and with Flynn's familiar face staring them down again in this year's title game, the Rockets came out swinging and got their revenge.

Auburn scored twice in the first inning and held the Blue Eagles' offense in check all game in a 2-1 victory last night at LeLacheur Park.

"The relationship we have with [Plymouth North] is really amazing," Rockets coach Eric Swedberg said. "The game last year and the game this year, not just because they were state finals, were two of the most fun games I've ever been a part of."

Plymouth North miscues allowed Auburn (24-2) to get off to a quick start. A throwing error by second baseman Dan Fratus put Nick Natoli on second, and he advanced to third on Flynn's wild pitch. Evan Pluff drove in Natoli with a single to left, and Jon Leroux followed with a double to score Pluff for a 2-0 lead.

"We played great for six innings; we had a bad inning in the first," Blue Eagles coach Dwayne Follette said. "We made one play more than them last year, and they made one play more than us this year."

After the first, Flynn was nearly unhittable. He fanned the next seven batters, and the first eight outs the Blue Eagles recorded were via Flynn strikeouts. Flynn finished with 13 strikeouts and allowed only two hits and one earned run.

"The best player in Plymouth history just graduated," Follette said of Flynn. "He gave us a hell of an effort tonight."

Auburn hurler Jeff Croteau was equally strong, though. He kept the Blue Eagles scoreless through four innings, only once allowing a Plymouth North runner to reach second base.

Plymouth North (18-9) finally broke through in the fifth, Tom MacInnes's two-out double to deep right plating Anthony Clark from first.

Fratus doubled with two outs in the seventh, but reliever Chris Halliday snuffed the threat by getting Jameson Wood to fly out to secure the championship for Auburn.

"We've worked hard for four years to get to this point," Leroux said of the 10 seniors on Auburn's roster. "There's nothing better than winning the states and going out on top."