Shrewsbury overcomes first-inning deficit
jbaker@pawtuckettimes.com applauding could be heard from far above in the stands.
“We gave up a clap-up for the 19s (19-year-olds who were ‘aging out’ of Legion ball), and – as always with such first-class kids – they clapped it up for their coaches,” Allard said, then sighed, “I’m so proud of these kids. Those 14 guys that we came here to regionals with, they played their tails off for us all year long. I’ll take this group over any other one in the world.”
Leadoff batter Drew Szafranski led Allard’s bunch at the plate, going 3-for-5 with a run, while Connor Sheehan finished 2-for-4 with a triple, RBI and two runs; Addie Kopack 1-for-2 with two RBI; Sean Doris and Steve Andrews 1-for-4 with a run; and Nick Larson 0-for-3 with a “freebie,” RBI and a run.
The Massachusetts titleists jumped out to a quick 1-0 cushion in the first off of starter Corey Mayer after yielding a one-out walk to Martin, and he promptly stole second before being balked to third. He also issued a pass to Sullivan, and West’s double to the left-center gap plated Martin.
The good news for UD: Relay man/ shortstop Shane Calabro gunned down Sullivan trying to score.
Undaunted, Post 14 took advantage of three hits and – later – three errors, to explode for five in the back half. Szafranski started the fray with a base hit up the middle, and Sheehan’s three-bagger down the left-field stripe scored him. Kopack plated Sheehan with a sacrifice fly to right, and Doris crushed an opposite-field double to keep the flurry alive.
He raced to third when Larson reached on shortstop Tommy Cue’s bobble, then scored on Degon’s wild offering. Tyler McNulty’s grounder was also booted by Cue, plating Larson, and the hurler struck Kyle DeLuca.
Amazingly, Calabro knocked another bounder to short, and Cue bungled that, too, allowing McNulty (who had robbed third) to score.
All told, UD sent 10 to the plate, and it suddenly had a 5-1 advantage.
“That was a great start to a game for us, and I felt confident with Corey out there, and any one else if I had to bring them in,” Allard said.
It nevertheless didn’t last long, as Shrewsbury exploded for five more to retake the lead at 6-5.
Dillon Zona led the frame with a single to left, but Mayer fanned Cue, then walked Christian Siciliano. Mattero’s opposite-field hit to right plated Zona and pushed Siciliano to third, and Mayer delivered “Ball Four” to Tyler Hopping to fill the bags. Martin followed with a RBI single, Sullivan with an easy run-scoring walk and Lou Davolio’s hit to right-center delivered two more, the latter on Sheehan’s slight bobble in right.
“That was the difference, they gave us five and we gave them five right back,” Allard shrugged. “They seized the moment.”
UD, however, responded in the back half after Andrews smoked a one-out double down the right-field line, leaving manager Frank Vaccaro opting for the lefty Mudd, but Kopack greeted him with a single to center to plate him. That knotted it at 6-6.
The score remained that way until fifth (though the “Deckers” had a couple of opportunities to regain the lead). That’s when Shrewsbury notched four and took control. Righthander Brandon Kelly replaced Mayer in the second and entered that frame with minimal damage, but he walked the leadoff Zona, and Cue’s soft hit to right pulled him to second.
He then hit Siciliano to juice the bases, and Mattero’s ground single to left scored the go-ahead run.
Hopping’s fielder’s choice plated Cue, and Martin’s two-run double down the left-field line gave the tourney hosts the 10-6 cushion.
After that hit, Allard selected to bring in Austin Cabral, who – to be fair – was pretty good. He allowed a pass to Sullivan, yet West lined out to left fielder Larson, who’s impressive rope to Andrews at first doubled up the kid who walked.
UD couldn’t do much against Mudd, though did threaten to assemble a decent rally in the sixth. Szafranski started the frame with a roped hit to lefty, and Sheehan smoked another to left-center. With one down, Kopack walked to load up the bags, but Doris poked a grounder to first baseman West, who threw to the plate to get Szafranski.
Larson then drew a “freebie,” allowing Sheehan to trot home. There was hope after all with the bases stacked, but McNulty’s fly to left ended it.
“They had two big innings, we only had one and that was the difference maker,” Allard offered. “We’re disappointed, but I will say that Upper Deck isn’t going anywhere. We have a good young corps of kids coming in from the Junior Division, not to mention Connie Mack, so – with the returning players – we’re going to be fine.”
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Shrewsbury, Mass. Post 397 150 040 0 – 10 – 9 – 5 Upper Deck Post 14 510 001 0 – 7 – 10 – 1 Dylan Degon, Tyler Mudd (2) and Nick Martin. Corey Mayer, Brandon Kelly (2), Austin Cabral (5), Addison Kopack (7) and Tyler McNulty. 2B – John West, Nick Martin, Sean Doris, Steve Andrews. 3B – Connor Sheehan.