LEOMINSTER — Top-seeded Leominster Post 151 is headed to the Massachusetts District 4 American Legion Baseball Championship Series after defeating 4-seeded Shrewsbury Post 397, 3-1, in a semifinal matchup Saturday afternoon.
In a game dominated by pitching, Leominster capitalized on limited scoring opportunities while holding Shrewsbury to just one hit.
After two scoreless innings, Leominster broke through with two runs in the bottom of the fourth before adding an insurance run in the sixth. Shrewsbury’s only run came in the top of the third when Bryan Herlihy scored, but the offense could not generate another threat against Leominster starter Danny Frade.
Frade turned in a complete-game gem, allowing one run on one hit over seven innings while striking out three and walking two to earn the victory.
Leominster managed just three hits but made them count. AJ Wozniak blasted a solo home run and added a double, finishing with an RBI and a run scored. Brendan Mariani went 1-for-2 with an RBI, while Mark Garner scored a run and stole a base.
Shrewsbury’s lone hit came from Bryan Herlihy, who doubled and later scored the team’s only run. Jake Brodeur started on the mound, allowing two runs over three innings before Brayden Lizewski pitched the final three frames in relief.
With the win, Leominster advances to the District 4 Championship Series, where it will face Milford Post 59 for the district title. Shrewsbury drops into the loser’s bracket, where its postseason run came to an end following the defeat.
