WORCESTER, Mass. – Millbury hadn't had to grind out a one-run win in months, not since a 5-4 win over Uxbridge in the second game of the season on April 2.
But the No. 5 Woolies, winners of seven straight by a combined scoring margin of 85-11, found themselves protecting a 3-2 lead against No. 2 Lynnfield in the MIAA Division 4 state championship on Saturday.
Freshman Ryan Nikiforow was unfazed, even against a Pioneers offense capable of an outburst at a moment's notice. Millbury's starter worked cleanly through the bottom of the seventh, needing just five pitches to pick up the first two outs of the frame, which included a three-pitch strikeout against Lynnfield's Charles Morgan.
Millbury and Nikiforow's last obstacle was Columbia commit Tyler Adamo. Nikiforow held strong again, inducing a towering pop-up to second baseman Jimmer Donnelly.
Donnelly corralled it to seal the win. He jumped into the arms of first baseman Aiden Dubois, and the celebration was on for Millbury (20-5), which won its second state title and first since 1984.
All of the game's offense came in the first inning.
The Wollies got to work quickly when Nolan Orzechowski's single drove in Bryson McCarthy for a 1-0 lead. Nikiforow helped himself out when he was hit by a pitch with two outs. One pitch later, Aiden Havalotti laced a two-run single to right for a 3-0 cushion.
Lynnfield answered quickly. After Adamo and Nicholas Groussis opened the bottom of the first with back-to-back singles, Madux Iovinelli's groundout to second drove in Adamo. Two pitches later, starting pitcher Luke DiSilvio singled through the right side of the infield to cut it to 3-2.
The pitcher's duel was on from there.
Nikiforow finished with six strikeouts across seven innings, scattering eight hits and giving up one earned run.
DiSilvio struck out nine across seven innings for the Pioneers (20-5), surrendering three earned runs on four hits and two walks.
Here are seven standouts from the game.
