We would not be surprised to hear that Poncin-Hewitt baseball complex in Attleboro employs a larger and more active grounds crew than some Major League ballparks. Before every game the diamonds are dragged, hosed, and lined, grass is cut, and mound packed. Between games, these guys run on and off like a NASCAR pit crew. It's fun to watch, and you feel a little guilty sending your guys onto the field to tear it all up afterwards.
The Rockets were set to take on Wellesley in game one of the round robin, and in game two, they would face the Attleboro squad that beat them a year ago to win the tournament. Today would be no walk in the park for Needham, who would likely need to win both games to advance out of the first round.
In game one, Wellesley jumped out to a four-run lead in the top of the first, but the Rockets battled back and posted 11 runs in their half. Eric Gage led off with a line drive single to right. If you're Wellesley, you don't want to put this guy on base if you can help it. Gage got a good jump on the 1-0 pitch to Matthew Dougherty and stole second. Man in scoring position with nobody out for Dougherty, and Dougherty delivered. He put fat metal on a 2-0 fastball and drove it deep to right field for a triple. Gage scored, and the Rockets were on the board, 4-1. Dougherty would cross to make it 4-2 on a single to left off the bat of Jeffrey Hohler, and Tom Berkley would walk to give Steven Donovan two on, still with nobody out. Donovan worked the count full and then jumped all over the payoff pitch, giving it a ride to deep center for a double. Hohler scored, and the Rockets were back within one. Will Dorion made it back-to-back with a double to center--his first of three doubles in the game. Berkley scored, Donovan scored, and with nobody out in the bottom of the first, the once daunting Wellesley lead had been completely erased. 5-4, Needham, and the Rockets were hungry for more. Jack Morgan singled to right on a hard ground ball, Drew Siegenthaler walked, Aidan McGaugh walked, Eric Gage singled for the second time in the inning, and Matthew Dougherty singled to center for his second hit of the inning. When all was said and done the Rockets had notched 11 runs in their half of the first and never looked back. 13-8, Needham, was the final.
Between games, the Rockets hit Dave and Buster's for some lunch, games, air conditioning, and a large stuffed banana, which they dressed in jersey and cap, named Buster, and made our official mascot.
The Rockets drew the home dugout (by coin toss) for game 2. Starter Matthew Dougherty took the hill in the first and was sharp, retiring Attleboro in order. He had some excellent support behind him. Eric Gage covered some real estate in center field to run down a shallow fly ball for out number one. Will Dorion at first base backhanded a hot ground ball towards right and took it to the bag himself for the second out. Dorion scooped another ground ball and flipped to Dougherty coming over to cover to put an end to the first.
Drew Siegenthaler singled in the Rockets' half--his first of four hits on the night--and Will Dorion was on with a single, but the Rockets were not able to capitalize. No score after one.
Matthew Dougherty continued to fire seeds in the second and logged another scoreless inning for his Rockets.
In the bottom of the second, the Rockets bats came alive. Joe Dateo, Aidan McGaugh, and Jack Morgan all singled. Morgan's shot to center brought Dateo in to put the Rockets on the board. McGaugh scored on a single off the bat of Matt Dougherty. 2-0, Rockets. Tom Berkley loaded the bases with a fifth straight single, and Jeffrey Hohler walked in Morgan to make it 3-0, Rockets. Eric Gage hit a bomb to center field to bring in Dougherty on a sac fly, and the Rockets lead was now 4 runs.
But Attleboro would battle fiercely back and put up 8 runs in a big third inning. 8-4, Attleboro after two and a half.
Yet the Rockets remained calm. Nobody panicked. They had been here many times before. Just get on base, chip away, play good baseball.
In their half of the third, the Rockets would get one back. Steven Donovan reached on an error and William Popper drove him in with a shot to center field. 8-5, Attleboro.
Steven Donovan took the hill in relief for the Rockets and made quick work of the fourth. He got two to tap it back to the hill and got another off the bag at third.
The Rockets were able to put runners on in the bottom of the fourth but were not able to do any damage. Aidan McGaugh doubled, Jack Morgan singled, but the fireworks would end suddenly and quietly, and Attleboro found its way out of the jam.
Steven Donovan returned to the hill and engineered a 1-2-3 fifth. Still 8-5 after four and a half.
Time was running out for the Rockets. Sure would be nice to make something happen here in the fifth. Sean Greene walked and Drew Siegenthaler cranked his third hit of the night to put two on with one out for the Rockets. Steven Donovan walked to jack the bases for Joe Dateo, who launched an RBI-single into left field to bring the Rockets within two. William Popper drove in another with a single to left, and suddenly it was a 1-run game. Bases juiced with two outs for Jack Morgan, and the Rockets down by 1. Morgan looked at strike one and then shot the 0-1 pitch into left field. Absolutely clutch! Donovan scored and the Rockets had tied it up.
Top of the last... Steven Donovan gloved a hot line drive shot right back at the mound for out number one. He fanned two more to clinch at least a tie for the Rockets. But, to advance in the tournament, the Rockets would need a win. A tie was unlikely to be enough.
Bottom of the sixth. Last shot for the Rockets. Tom Berkley would lead it off for Needham. He worked the count full and looked at ball four high to put himself on and keep the line moving for Jeffrey Hohler. Hohler hit a bomb to right field for a double and moved the winning run 60 feet away. Sean Greene walked to load the bases for Drew Siegenthaler, who has been scorching hot of late. First pitch swinging, Siegenthaler lined one into center field, Berkley crossed, and a mob greeted Siegenthaler at first. A walk-off RBI-single for Drew Siegenthaler and the Rockets would come away with the win in dramatic fashion.
2-0 in their pool, the Rockets look good to advance. First they will have to take on Sharon, tomorrow at 1:00. See you there!
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