Hamilton edges Lawrence in seesaw battle
HAMILTON » When shortstop Joey Sacco strayed far into foul territory and laid out, full extension, to catch a pop-up and end the game, it was the perfect ending to the night for Hamilton.
It was symbolic of the way Post 31 battled all game in grinding out a 2-1 win over Lawrence Post 414 in a Mercer County American Legion contest Monday night.
Hamilton (7-4) survived Lawrence (5-3) getting its lead runner on in each of the first five innings with just one run allowed.
It escaped Jake Kmiec’s leadoff double at the start of the game; and it cut down the potential go-ahead run at the plate on a pinpoint throw by Michael James from right field.
Ryan Beczo supplied the big blow by delivering a two-out RBI single in the bottom of the sixth for a game-winning hit.
“It’s a great win,” said Beczo, playing his first season with Post 31 after playing for Broad Street Park Post 313. “They’re a tough team. They like to hit the ball. We were up, 1-0, and they came back.
“They have some good hitters. When they started with the leadoff double, I thought, ‘This is gonna be a rude awakening for us.’ But we came back and fought through it.”
After Kmiec doubled and moved to third on a ground ball, Hamilton brought the infield in, and starter Josh Welke got two soft grounders to wriggle free. Leadoff singles in the second and third got as far as second and third, respectively, but could not score.
Post 31 manufactured a third-inning run when Michael James walked, stole second, went to third on an overthrow and scored on Sacco’s two-out double.
“I just do whatever I can to help my team, even the little things,” James said. “Whatever I can do.”
In the fourth, Post 414 finally took advantage of a leadoff runner as Chris Conti singled and eventually scored on Ryan Castoral’s fielder’s choice RBI to tie the game at 1.
Lawrence looked like it would cash in again in the fifth when Ryan Mains drew a leadoff walk and got to third with one out. Aidan Jodoin lifted a fly ball to right field that James caught and gunned a perfect one-hopper to catcher Drayven Kowalski to nail Mains, trying to score.
“It was a nice line drive right to me,” Michael James said. “It was pretty easy to get behind. I just used my momentum to throw the guy out.”
Hamilton got the gamewinner in the sixth when Brendan James drew a oneout walk, and pinch-runner Tyler Nielsen reached third with two outs. Beczo then flared a 2-2 pitch into rightcenter to plate Nielsen.
“As G (coach Rich Giallella) was saying on the third base line, I was jumping at everything,” Beczo said. “He told me just trust my hands and lay back on the ball, that’s what I did. He’s been helping me along with my batting the whole time I’ve been here.”
Anthony Wilk wrapped up a sterling effort with a clean seventh, as he got nine outs, while retiring all eight batters he faced. Welke allowed five hits and one unearned run.
“The percentages say something like you’re supposed to score three of five times when you get your leadoff runner on,” Post 31 manager Rick Freeman said. “That was a good job by our pitchers and our defense. Our pitchers did a nice job tonight.”
As did Lawrence starter Ryan Sullivan, who tossed a two-hitter. The lone problem is, both hits drove in runs as he hurt himself with four walks and a hit batsmen.
“He’s a good pitcher,” Beczo said.
“They’re a good team,” Freeman said. “(Sullivan) did a real nice job. He’s got some potential.”
Lawrence (5-3) Hamilton (7-4) 2B:
Kmiec (L), Sacco (H); (L), Sacco, Beczo (H). Wilk (1-0);
WP— 000100 001001 LP— RBIs: 0—151 x—221
Castoral Sullivan (1-2). Follow Rich Fisher on twitter @fish4scores