Aleixo pitches Post 85 to home victory over NEFL
WOONSOCKET – Ben Aleixo threw gas on Thursday night, and the crew from New England Frozen Lemonade/Shields Post 43 had serious issues catching up to it.
Aleixo, a North Smithfield resident and recent Wheeler graduate, whirled a five-hitter and yielded a walk while whiffing a dumbfounding dozen during a complete-game gem to propel Navigant Post 85 to a stellar 4-0 victory over skipper Jim Dawber's bunch before perhaps 100 fans at Renaud Field.
With it, Navigant (11-4 overall) gained a 1-0 lead in this best-of-three R.I. American Legion Senior Division Tournament quarter- final set, and can sweep Post 43 with a win tonight at Rhode Island College.
That tilt is slated to start at 5 o'clock.
“Ben was just phenomenal,” stated assistant coach Ron Masse, who had taken the reins for manager Derek Carrigan, who missed the contest due to personal reasons. “He had great pop on his fastball and threw the breaking pitches for strikes.
“I do have to say that, when (NEFL) put the ball in play, our defense came up big behind him. It was a very wellplayed game on our part with eight hits and no errors.”
Stated Aleixo, who raised his pitching record with Post 85 this summer to 5-1 (with one no decision):
“I thought my fastball worked really well here; I definitely felt loose with the hot weather. The fastball also set up my secondary pitches. I don't know if it's the best I've ever pitched, but it's probably right up there.”
To be fair, Dave Simmons, the 2016 Warwick Vets grad, didn't pitch poorly, but he did have problems with his location. He surrendered only six hits and three runs (all earned), but walked an unusual eight and heaved three wild deliveries in his seven-frame stint. He also struck out three.
Offensively, Woonsocket grad Harrison Blais led the charge, going 1-for-3 with a perfect suicide-squeeze bunt and two RBI (he chipped in four assists at second), while fellow Villa Novan Austin Forget finished 3for-4 with a double; Billy Butler and Mount St. Charles product Joey Barter 1-for-3 with a two-bagger and run scored; Sam Hunt 1for-2 with two walks, stolen bag, RBI and two runs; and catcher Sam Owens 1-for-3.
Aleixo – who will further his academic and baseball education at Babson College in just over a month – helped himself as well, walking thrice and robbing a base.
Navigant threatened in the first, though nothing came of it, but did rally for two in the back half of the second. Barter drilled a leadoff double off the fence's base in left-center (at least 365 feet), and Hunt walked. Both moved up on Ponaganset grad Chris DePetrillo's sacrifice bunt, and Barter scored on a wild pitch.
With Hunt at third, Blais achieved a superlative suicide-squeeze bunt toward first to plate Barter; Blais nearly beat it out, but Simmons escaped after forcing Justin Mojica to ground to second.
NEFL retired the first two with ease in the third, but Simmons walked Aleixo (who promptly robbed second) and Butler, yet Barter popped out to end the threat.
Post 85 nevertheless gained a 3-0 cushion in the fourth. Hunt led the frame with a pass, then stole second and took third on another wild offering. Blais responded by smoking an opposite-field single to right to plate him.
Stunningly, Post 43 backstop Marcus Alexander gunned him down attempting to steal second, and – after Mojica walked – he did the same. Alexander threw out four would-be base robbers on the evening.
That was perhaps the lone Navigant negative.
With two down in the bottom of the seventh, Forget ripped a double down the rightfield stripe and Owens walked, though Aleixo took a called third strike to shut down that possible flurry.
Still, Butler opened the eighth with a twobagger of his own, that down the left-field stripe and off of reliever Matt Martinez. The righthander then moved to a 3-1 count against Barter, and the base umpire ejected him from the game, apparently for inappropriate language.
Fellow righty Tyler Parks took over, passed Barter on his first toss, and Butler stole third to place runners at the corners. Hunt delivered the final run with a ground hit up the middle.
NEFL threatened in the top of the ninth when Josh Coleman and Zach Odsen (3-for4) both stroked hits to left. Aleixo, however, fanned Dylan Palmiotti, then induced a gameclinching twin killing.
He closed with only 107 pitches, far below the 120 maxium in Legion action.