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Six-run ninth guides Post 14 |
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Wednesday, 29 July 2009 |
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By ERIC BENEVIDES Sports writer
WARWICK — This time, Hurd Post 14 weaved the ninth-inning magic.
Joe Landi’s bases-clearing double in the top of the ninth highlighted a six-run uprising that snapped a 6-6 draw and helped Post 14 soar to a 12-6 win over Shields Post 43 on Tuesday night at the Mickey Stevens Complex that evened their best-of-three quarterfinal-round series at a game apiece.
The victory was the 20th in 23 games for the top-seeded locals, who will try to clinch the series and lock down a spot in this weekend’s semifinals in the third and deciding game tonight at 7 p.m. at Chet Nichols Field.
Post 14 was 24 hours removed from a 5-4 loss to eighth-seeded Shields (14-10) that saw Post 43 break a 4-4 tie with a run in the top of the ninth, but in last night’s rematch, it was Post 14 that struck -- and struck big -- in the last inning.
“It was a very emotional game,” stated Post 14 manager Jim Dawber. “I was crushed last night with the results. I couldn’t believe (the season) was going to come to an end, like a screeching halt. It was an emotional feeling, so for this victory to occur, it was just bliss.”
Dawber didn’t hand out any game balls after the victory, but if he did, it’s a good bet that Landi would have received one for his big hit in the ninth and his superb relief pitching that saw him take the hill in the bottom of the fifth with Post 14 down by a 6-5 score and deliver five hitless innings.
“I was just throwing strikes,” said Landi, a standout for Smithfield High this spring who was also a Second-Team All-State selection. “I know my defense is very solid, so I just threw it in there and they helped me out.”
Post 14 began its impressive final-inning rally off reliever and losing pitcher Jack Nottage, who issued a leadoff walk to Jordan DaCruz and a base hit to right by Ryan Silva.
Shields manager Jim Foster then brought in reliever Pat Lavey, who worked the final two innings in Monday’s game to pick up the win, and after Lavey walked the first batter he faced to load the bases, he came back to retire the next two batters on a infield fly and a force out at the plate.
But things soon went sour for Lavey and Shields. The first pitch he threw to the next batter, No. 9 hitter Matt Sorkin, was a wild offering to the backstop, and it allowed Silva to race home with the go-ahead score.
Lavey’s next pitch then grazed Sorkin in the lower back to reload the bases for Landi, who came through with his double by smacking an opposite-field shot over the head of left fielder Norm Gaines and to the fence.
“I had a 3-2 count and I knew he was coming in with the fastball,” remarked Landi. “I just choked up and tried going the other way with it.”
But Post 14 was far from done. Ryan O’Dell knocked in Landi with his third hit of the night, a sharp single to right, and he ended up scoring from first on a double by Dean Beshansky that he bashed deep into the gap in left-center.
That was more than enough support for Landi, who only allowed two batted balls to leave the outfield in his five innings of work, struck out two batters, and walked three.
Post 14 copped a quick 2-0 lead in their opening swings on a wild pitch that allowed Landi to score and a fielder’s choice grounder to short by Silva that might have been an inning-ending 6-4-2 double play had Melchiori, Shields’ second baseman, not think there was two outs and head toward his dugout after taking the flip to the bag.
Shields then came back and took the lead off Post 14 starter Dave Ring with a run in the second and four in the third, and it was RBI doubles from Mike Nadiger, Spencer Webb, and Melchiori, sandwiched around a pair of infield errors, that keyed the third-inning rally.
Two more doubles in the next inning by Kevin Stenhouse and Chris Valerio brought home Shields’ sixth run, but Post 14 answered back in the next two innings to knot the score.
In the fifth, a leadoff bunt single by Landi, followed by walks to O’Dell and Beshansky, set the tables for a line two-run single to center by DaCruz and a sacrifice fly to center by Silva, and in the sixth, O’Dell hit a two-out double down the left-field line and came home on a single to right by Beshansky.
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Last Updated ( Monday, 31 August 2009 )
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Go Tolman Baseball Team. Joshua Amado you Rock!! - Ana Kinsley
Good Luck to NORTHEAST Elite RI @the
BRUTE IMPIRE NATIONALS TOMORROW WE HAVE A LOT OF TALENTED WRESTLERS GOING SO WE WILL HAVE A FEW CHAMPS AND A LOTR OF PLACERS!! GO NORTH EAST ELITE!!! - Dawn Lariviere Go tolman high school go leanna fanning my favorite player
on the team well wishes for your uocoming games. - Shauna Marrow
Saturday night I attended the semi-final girls basketball
game vs Townies Girls team as an aunt of one of the EP players. It was an exciting
all-around game for both teams, and I give credit to my niece and the Townie girls
too for a great season. <br />I just have to say though, that I was
particularly impressed with the talent, poise and unflappable playing style of this
Tolman girls team! It can only speak well of a great coaching staff, and their love
and encouragement of these talented girls. After the game, the low-key humilty that
the Tolman girls displayed, showed real sportsmanship and class. I have a feeling
that this season is the "Year of the Tiger" and hope that they go straight on to
victory in the championship. No matter what the outcome though, they've gained a new
loyal fan in me, and I look forward to following the next seasons with real
interest. This is the way that high school sports should be played! You go Tolman
girls! - Regina Orio
THANK YOU TO THE PAWTUCKET TIMES AND THE WOONSOCKET CALL
FORV THEIR GREAT COVERAGE OF HIGH SCHOOL WRESTLING IN YOUR PAPERS IT IS VERY MUCH APPERICATED!! A SPECIAL THANKS TO TERRY NEAU FOR HIS EXCELLENT COVERAGE OF CUMBERLAND CLIPPERS WRESTLING AND FOP ALL THE GREAT PICTURES YOU PUT IN THE CALL THEY ARE AWESOME!!!THANKS AGAIN!!! - Dawn Lariviere
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