SPAULDING RALLIES PAST U-32 IN 7TH INNING

BARRE – An improbable rally in the seventh inning allowed the Spaulding baseball team to earn payback with Saturday’s 5-4 victory over U-32. The Crimson Tide competed as the visiting team on their home field because conditions at U-32 were unplayable. Spaulding’s comeback hopes took a hit with two quick outs to start the top of the seventh inning, but back-to-back singles followed by a double put the Tide in the driver’s seat. “We were ahead 3-0 and they scored a run in the fifth and then they scored three in the bottom of the sixth to take the lead 4-3,” Spaulding coach Jay Ransom said. “We got up in the top of the seventh and we had a groundout and hit a line drive to second for two outs. I was beginning to think the game was going to slip away from us. But then Josh Morrill got an infield single and they had a throwing error, so he took second. Nick Blow had an RBI single to tie the game and AJ Castellaneta had a double. Jackson Pierson was pinch-running for Nick and he scored from first base.” Morrill (2-for-4, double) and Blow (2-for-4, two RBIs) paced the Tide at the plate. Ryan Tacey had an early RBI to help Spaulding jump ahead at the start. Blow pitched the first six innings, issuing two walks, allowing seven hits and recording four strikeouts. “Nick scattered the hits around,” Ransom said. “They had one inning where they had a couple guys on, but they didn’t score until the fifth inning. He did a nice job of staying in control. He threw 82 pitches and he was very efficient and over the plate.” Freshman Jalen Lewis pitched the seventh inning to earn his first varsity victory. He induced a fly ball to the outfield and two pop-ups to end the game. Losing pitcher Jackson Root gave up eight hits, racked up eight strikeouts and issued zero walks. “He was very composted on the mound,” Ransom said of Root. “He struck out five out of six in the first two innings against us.” Kyle DeRosia, Reuben Hartzell and Quintin Pelzel all went 2-for-3 at the plate for U-32. Connor Aitchison’s two-run base hit and a bloop single by Hartzell sparked a three-run sixth inning by the Raiders. The Crimson Tide suffered a 19-0 loss to the Raiders in 2016 but were a much-improved team this time around, saving their best for last. “They spanked us pretty good last year,” Ransom said. “This year the difference is the kids are playing with a little more confidence. We have a lot of kids who are freshmen, but they play the game pretty smart and they know what they’re doing. We’re going to be overmatched in some games because of our youth, but it’s about the confidence the kids have. We talked about executing and having a one-out-at-a-time mentality. We had a trip to Pennsylvania a few weeks ago and the boys are really bonding right now. Of course, winning helps too.” Spaulding (2-1) will host Rice at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday. U-32 will travel to play Hartford the same day.

SPAULDING RALLIES PAST U-32 IN 7TH INNING

Photo Credit: U-32 Athletics

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