WORCESTER >> Led by a complete game from freshman pitcher Ryan Nikiforow, Millbury defeated Lynnfield, 3-2, to win the Division 4 state championship Saturday.

“For the team and the community, it’s just so cool to be part of this,” said Nikiforow, who struck out five and allowed eight hits over seven innings. “Lynnfield has a lineup full of tough hitters. Every hitter battled, but my defense backed me up.”

The offense for both clubs started out fast and furious at Polar Park, with five runs scored in the first inning.

Millbury sent eight batters to the plate in the top half, scoring three runs off the bats of Nolan Orzechowski (1-3, RBI) and Alex Havalotti (1-2, 2 RBI, BB, SB) to jump ahead. No. 2 seed Lynnfield answered back, with Madux Iovinello (1-3, RBI) and Luke DiSilvio (1-3, RBI) each knocking in a run to shorten the deficit to one, 3-2, in the bottom half.

From that point forward, pitching and defense dominated.

DiSilvio was sensational on the mound for Lynnfield, striking out nine and not allowing another hit after the first. But Lynnfield (20-5) simply could not find a way to score another run off Nikiforow. And he had help as Millbury closed out the bottom of the fourth, fifth, and sixth innings with spectacular defensive plays.

In the bottom of the fourth, Lynnfield’s Charles Morgan dropped a perfect bunt with two outs and a runner on second, but Millbury third baseman Bryson McCarthy charged the ball and threw to first to make the out. An inning later, Nikiforow struck out DiSilvio to record the third out, which stranded another runner at second. The pièce de resistance then came in the bottom of the sixth when senior Chris Havalotti made the final play of his high school career with a breathtaking catch in left field off a rocket from Lynnfield’s Matthew Tracy.

“I knew I was catching that ball as soon as it was hit,” said Havalotti. “It’s hard to describe, but it’s the type of play you dream about making. My role was to play defense, and it felt great to make that play and back up my team.”

Standing on the mound, Nikiforow watched in awe as Havalotti made the season-defining catch.

“Havotti’s catch was unbelievable,” said Nikiforow. “That’s a SportsCenter Top 10 catch — he better be on there.”

After starting the season by dropping four of their first seven games, Millbury manager Ron Silvestri was especially proud of the way his team battled through adversity.

“Everyone on the team bought in to what we were doing, and the whole community came out to support us,” said Silvestri, who is in his 13th season with Millbury. “This is something they can tell their kids about in 20 years. It’s a really special accomplishment. And it didn’t come easy — that’s a tremendous Lynnfield team.”

As Millbury (20-5) celebrated their first state title in baseball since 1984, it was an entirely different scene in the opposite dugout. No. 2 seed Lynnfield was seeking its first state title since 1961, which was won before the current MIAA state tournament format.

“The kids played well — unfortunately we gave up those three runs in the first inning, and that was the difference,” said Lynnfield coach John O’Brien. “We answered right back and we had our chances, and our guy pitched very well for us, but give credit to them. We came up a little short. But it’s a great group of kids, a great group of coaches, and they battled hard all year.

“If that kid doesn’t make that catch in left field, we’re probably still playing. But you got to give it to them. They’re well-coached and they made the plays.”

Silvestri said his team grew stronger deeper into games all season.

“It’s a great group,” said Silvestri. “They practice hard, they play hard, and this is the payoff.”