Needham, Walpole Battle to Tie

The Rockets strolled back into town with a decisive victory over Westwood in hand and looking to extend their SYBL win streak to four. They would have to get past a tough Walpole American squad looking to strengthen their position in a stacked Region 3. This was destined to be a tight contest from the outset.

Rockets starter Drew Siegenthaler did his part to keep American off the scoreboard in the first. He got one to fly to left, another to pop it up to second, a third to ground to second, and no damage done.

Siegenthaler would contribute to the cause offensively as well working the count full and taking ball four to give Will Dorion two on with nobody out in the bottom of the first. Dorion took a pitch in the arm to load the bases, and Aidan McGaugh drew first blood with an RBI single into left field. William Popper made it back-to-back as he singled hard up the middle to bring in another. 2-0, Rockets after one.

Siegenthaler returned to the bump to retire Walpole in order in both the second and third. Very efficient work for the reliable righty. In three innings, he retired 9 of 11 batters faced, and the Rockets remained in control 2-0 through two and a half.

Needham would notch two more in their half of the third. Will Dorion walked, Steven Donovan singled and scored on a William Popper rip to right, and Joe Dateo knocked in another on a single to left.

4-0, Rockets heading into the fourth. Jeffrey Hohler came out to relieve Siegenthaler and proceeded to fire bullets. He fanned two and got one to pop up to second, but Walpole was able to get one across.

Suddenly emboldened, Walpole put up two more in the fifth and another in the sixth to tie it up going into the final half inning.

Aidan McGaugh worked a leadoff walk and made his way to third on two productive ground balls. With two outs, he stood 60 feet away from a dramatic walk-off for his Rockets. But, unfortunately, that's where this game would end as Walpole was able to record out number three and put it officially in the books as a 4-4 tie. League rules do not allow for extra innings during the regular season.

However, with plenty of sunlight available and 22 boys eager to play it out, the umpire allowed an unofficial seventh inning.

Matthew Dougherty took the hill for the Rockets and made quick work of it. He struck out one, got one to line to second and one to line to third to hold the tie. In the Rockets' half, Tom Berkley, Drew Siegenthaler, and Will Dorion each singled, and Berkley came around to score.


But the Rockets would have to settle for a tie, officially, and stay hungry for their fourth league win of the season.


We will take on Norwood National next, on Wednesday evening at Small. See you there!