WORLD SERIES FOR SHREWSBURY

WORCESTER — For the second time in three years, Shrewsbury Post 397 is heading to the American Legion World Series in Shelby, North Carolina, and the team can point to John West’s brilliant pitching performance as a big reason why they are making a return trip to Keeter Stadium.

West pitched a complete-game masterpiece, giving up only one run on three hits while striking out three, as Post 397 came from behind to beat Lawrence, 3-1, at Hanover Insurance Park at Fitton Field.

West’s brilliant outing was sorely needed, after Lawrence beat Shrewsbury, 4-3, earlier in the day to force a decisive nightcap, with a trip to the World Series hanging in the balance.

West said he was happy to get the opportunity.

“Coach (Frank Vaccaro) came up to me and said if you want it, go get it,” West said. “I really wanted it. I gave my best to go out there and throw strikes, and that’s what happened.”

“John West really needed to step up, and he gave us everything he had,” Vaccaro said. “He started getting in the zone, and once he was in the zone, I think they had a tough time hitting him.”

West gave up an early run in the first, but he said it was only a matter of time before his offense picked him up.

“I trust the guys, I knew they were going to get it done at some, and I trusted them,” West said. “I just knew I had to go out there and throw strikes.”

Post 397 (30-7) was making its third consecutive regional championship game appearance, earning a trip to the World Series in 2017 after beating Braintree. Braintree beat Shrewsbury in last year’s title game.

Shrewsbury also was playing in honor of the late Dick Maynard, who passed away May 15. He coached the East Side and Grafton Hill American Legion baseball teams for 31 years and won more than 400 games, including the 2003 state championship. In 2008, he was inducted into the Massachusetts Baseball Coaches Hall of Fame.

Matt Livingston was named tournament MVP, batting .647 (11 for 17) with 15 RBIs in the tournament.

Trailing, 1-0, in the second game, the Shrewsbury offense came to life in the sixth when it jumped ahead with three runs. Mike Bonollo singled to lead off the inning before moving to second on a Chris Wright sacrifice bunt. After a Christian Siciliano single, Tyler Hopping roped a double to deep center to score Bonollo and tie the game at 1-1.

“I haven’t been doing great this year, not the season I wanted,” Hopping said. “I’ve wanted this moment all year, and I just wanted to do it for the team. I was gearing up for a fastball, I got it, and I ripped it.”

“Tyler Hopping had been struggling all year, I’m happy for him,” Vaccaro said.

Siciliano scored two pitches later on a wild pitch, and Ryan Conant drove home Hopping home with a sacrifice fly to put Shrewsbury ahead, 3-1. Siciliano scored easily despite suffering a lower body injury earlier in the afternoon.

“He’s a gritter, he wants to play, and he’s a gamer,” Vaccaro said of Siciliano fighting through the injury.

After Post 397 scored those three runs, West got the last six Lawrence batters in order to seal the victory.

“That (Lawrence) team is tough,” Vaccaro said. They do not give an inch. They made a couple mistakes, and we were lucky we took advantage of them.”

Shrewsbury opens World Series play t 7:30 p.m. Thursday against Randolph County Post 45 (Asheboro, North Carolina), the Mid-Atlantic Regional champ. Vaccaro said the experience in 2017 will be helpful this time around.

“We know what to do now a little bit differently,” Vaccaro said. “We’re a lot smarter. We know how we’re going to get treated, (at) the best venue in baseball that is not professional. Those people there are first class, the tournament is first class.”

In the first game of the afternoon, Shrewsbury opened the scoring in the first when Sean Bunton led off with a single and later scored on a Matt Livingston sacrifice fly. But Lawrence scored four runs in the third to take a 4-1 lead, which proved to be enough despite a Siciliano RBI single in the sixth that cut Lawrence’s lead to 4-3. Post 397 left the bases loaded that inning, squandering an opportunity as Lawrence held on to force a second game.

Fortunately for Post 397, it had West ready to go with everything on the line.

“I couldn’t be more excited, West said. “I love this team. This team is a great group of guys. I saw some of my best friends a couple years ago go down (to Shelby) and it looked like the best time of their lives. I just excited to share it with this great group of teammates.”

“It’s together a different squad that went in ’17, I’m really happy about that,” Vaccaro said. “Because now these guys get a taste of it. We’re going to fight like hell down there. We got a taste of it last time, we won one, and I want to get to the semifinals, so our mission is win two.”

—Contact Chris Kyne at sports@telegram.com.