In a battle between 2 very even teams, the #10 Rockland Tigers scored 2 runs in the 8th inning to defeat #7 John Bapst, 3-1 in a Class B East preliminary playoff game held Tuesday at the Winkin Complex.
The Crusaders were down 1-0 until the bottom of the 7th inning when Chase Huckstein led off the inning with a single. After Miles Gagnon walked and then was called out later at first base, Ryan Carr singled Huckstein home to tie the game at 1. In the extra inning, Beal singled and scored on a triple by Morrill that Derek Smith dove for and nearly caught. Morrill scored on a well-executed 'suicide squeeze' play to make it 3-1.
Nick Pooler was able to single in bottom half of the 8th but was left stranded.
Chris Hammond had another outstanding performance going all 8 innings on the mound, giving up 5 hits, and striking out 6.
Offensively for JB: Pooler was 2 for 3 with a sacrifice bunt. Casey Hull singled, Bill Wetherbee singled, Chase Huckstein singled and scored, Miles Gagnon had a single, and Ryan Carr was 2 for 3 with the only rbi for JB.
John Bapst ends their season with a very respectable 10-6-1 record.
Best of luck to all our seniors (Nick Pooler, Tyler Chamberlain, Miles Gagnon, Derek Smith, Chase Huckstein, Casey Hull, Matt Duplisea, Doug Dieuveuil, and Luke Cunningham) in the future!