WALPOLE, NH- In a game Wednesday that featured a 10 minute rain delay, on and off pouring rain, and several trips to the mound and batter’s box with wheelbarrows full of quick dry, both teams struggled to play clean baseball and throw strikes, as Walpole Babe Ruth ended up winning 16-10 over visiting Newport.
In this rainy semifinal, it was all about capitalizing on the opponent’s mistakes. In the early going, it was Newport that was able to do so, as they got out to a 3-0 lead after the top of the third. The first runs of the game came on an overthrown pickoff attempt at second, which allowed two Newport runs to come around as the ball traveled into the outfield and then was thrown over the third baseman’s head. Chase Hamilton and John Fagga scored on the play.
After a Josh Sharron walk, he stole second, bringing up J.T. Blaine. Blaine then walked, as Sharron stole third on the same pitch. Blaine took off for second trying to catch the defense off guard. The throw to second was in time but the ball popped loose and Sharron was able to sneak in from third to give the River Dogs a 3-0 lead.
In the bottom of the third, Walpole’s Curtis Hosley slapped a 2 RBI single to left. After a walk and a double steal on a passed ball, Walpole had runners on second and third with two outs. It was then that the homeplate umpire called for both teams to head to their dugout as rain started to pour down.
The ten minute delay was just long enough to kill Walpole’s momentum, as their offense stalled.
In the top of the fourth, Tanner Proper recorded Newport’s first hit despite leading in the game. It was a dribbler that landed in an awkward spot down the third base line.
In the top of the fifth, with the top of the order up, Newport’s bats came alive as they added on to their lead. Blaine knocked in Bryce Willey with a bunt down the first base line, Jarred Meyette had an RBI double to center to score Blain, and Meyette later scored from third on a throwing error. River Dogs led 6-2.
In the bottom of the fifth, Blaine came in to pitch for Meyette, as the rain started to pour once again. Blaine was visibly frustrated by the lack of grip that he could get on the ball, as he walked seven in the inning before being replaced by Fagga with the lead cut to 6-5. Fagga struggled as well, as he walked in a run and two runners scored on passed balls. Dylan Carpenter then came on to the mound, still with one out, and was able to retire the first two batters he faced as the rain started to slow down. Walpole led 9-6 after five innings.
Walpole continued to be allowed free bases in the bottom of the sixth, as their lead quickly stretched to 16-6 as the rain kept flowing. Newport followed that up with the same act, scoring runs on mostly free bases, as the final came to 16-10.
Despite the fight from Newport just a day after defeating Bellows Falls in the quarterfinals, they fell short. Walpole moves on to the championship that is scheduled for Friday at Bellows Falls Union High School. Their opponent has yet to be determined.
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