Senior James Naylor picked a great time to play his best high school baseball game.
The Bedford High School senior pitched a two-hit complete game on Tuesday, which was Senior Recognition Day – and led the Buccaneers to a 4-1 home victory over Burlington.
“I had a good feeling going into this performance, and I would say that was probably my best high school game,” said Naylor, who will attend Massachusetts Maritime Academy in the fall.
He threw fewer than 100 pitches, allowed a two-out double in the first inning and a single in the seventh, and during one stretch, retired eight Red Devils in a row. He struck out three and walked three, and the defense was solid.
Naylor scored the first run of the game, leading off the second inning with a single up the middle. Dylan Lykins walked, and they were driven home later in the inning by Ryan McGrath and Chris Randazzo.
Bedford scored two insurance runs in the fifth, on consecutive hits by Grant Bouchard, Drew Siwik and Naylor.
But the big story was Naylor’s performance on the mound. His only real trouble was in the top of the fifth with a walk and a two-out double error leading to a run. After a fielder’s choice, placing runners at first and third, Burlington’s James Gordon broke early for second, and Naylor stepped off the rubber and fired to McGrath for the putout that ended the threat.
The 6-11 Bucs play a makeup game at home at 4 p.m. on Thursday vs. Boston Latin and travel to Wilmington High School for a four-team tournament on Saturday and Sunday.