In quarterfinal action the morning before, the Needham Rockets upset Eastern Division champion Quincy in dramatic fashion, and the Needham Blue Sox came from behind to defeat a plucky Weymouth squad with Cinderella plans of their own. Inspiring performances for both Needham teams to be sure, but today's semifinal showdown was destined to take center stage. At stake was a trip to the Suburban Youth Baseball League Championship Game this Wednesday in Norwood.
These two teams had battled it out twice already during this short summer season. Clutch hitting allowed the Rockets to even it up in the late innings and force a 4-4 tie in the season opener. In their second meeting, the Rockets fell 6-1 as Blue Sox pitchers combined to spin a gem. What would Game Three of the subway series hold in store?
Tom was eager to find out with one out in the top of the first. First pitch swinging, he connected and sent a hard line drive into center field for a single. He advanced to second on a passed ball and then took third with some alert base running. The Blue Sox first baseman chased down a fly ball in shallow right field for out number two. He held the ball a little too long and had his back to second base, where Tom tagged up and took off for third. No throw, and the Rockets had a man on third with two away. The Blue Sox starter was sharp, though, and struck out the next batter to escape the inning unscathed.
Rockets starting pitcher Steven retired the side in order with some help in the first. Second baseman Alex gloved a hot ground ball towards the hole and fired to Tom at first for out number one. Matt G scooped a ground ball at short and fired a perfect strike to Tom for the second out. Steven took care of the third out on his own with a three-pitch K to put a perfect inning in the books.
The Rockets would make some noise in the second. With one out, Roman worked a walk. He scored from first on a deep single to right off the bat of Matt M, and the Rockets were on the board first. Matt would advance to third on two passed balls. Steven put himself on with a walk and stole second to give Matt G two in scoring position with two outs. Matt hit a bomb to right field deep enough to score both Matt M and Steven. 3-0, Rockets. With Matt G on second, Tom singled to center field. Matt rounded third and the Rockets sent him home. A perfect throw from center field, though, had him out by a step to end the inning.
The Rockets entered the bottom of the second with a 3-run lead in their pocket. But it was not meant to last. The Blue Sox bats suddenly woke up and as soon as the dust cleared, they had put up five to take the lead after two complete. Blue Sox 5, Rockets 3.
The Rockets would tie it up again in the top of the third. Patrick was hit by a pitch, Alex hit a screamer to short, but the Sox got Patrick at second. With one on and one out, Timmy hit a shot to right field for a single. He stole second, and the Rockets had two in scoring position with one out. Roman walked to load the bases for Matt M, who, as we've seen, has been raking of late. The slugger knocked in his second and third RBI of the morning with a double to deep center field. All knotted up at 5 apiece after two and a half.
But the Blue Sox continued their rampage in the bottom half, putting up another run before Tom came in to close the door with three straight Ks. 6-5, Blue Sox at the end of three.
Matt G led off with a single in the top of the fourth. Tom moved him over with a ground ball to first, and then Matt took third on a passed ball to put the tying run 60 feet away with one out. Patrick W hit a shot to first, but that pesky first baseman got leather on it, stepped on the bag, and fired home. Matt G was on his way. It was a great hustle by Matt, a very close play, but the umpire called him out to end the inning. Still 6-5, Blue Sox.
After the Sox beat out a leadoff infield single, Tom was sharp again, retiring the next three in order. Out number one was an infield fly to second. Number two was a ground ball to short, where Matt G ranged left to glove it and fired a laser to Alex at first to beat the runner by half a step. Perfect execution. A run scored, though, and put the Sox up by two.Tom fielded a tapper back to the mound and fired to first to end the inning.
The Blue Sox sent their Papelbon to the mound in the fifth to close it out. He was tough, striking out the first two. But Roman was able to get down a bunt on him. The Blue Sox were ready for it and executed their bunt defense flawlessly, but they still could not beat Roman's blazing speed to first. Roman's second bunt for a base hit in as many days put a runner on with two out. The Roman show wasn't over yet. He stole second on the next pitch, and the Rockets had a runner in scoring position. Then he made a break for third. The Blue Sox catcher made a quick throw. It was on target and right there, maybe even ahead of Roman, yet he managed to slide in under the tag. With Roman 60 feet away, the tying run came to the plate in hot-hitting Matt M. Matt battled, but the Blue Sox closer was throwing serious heat, and the Rockets were not able to bring Roman in.
Tom took the mound again for the Rockets in the top of the fifth. The Blue Sox clean-up hitter managed a single off of him, but after that he shut the door. He got one to pop up to the first base side of the mound and made a diving catch to glove it. He struck out another and got another to line to third base where Timmy's quick glove hauled it in. Another quality outing for Tom: 2 hits and 2 runs over 3 innings pitched, with 4 Ks against a punishing Blue Sox lineup.
The Rockets had their last chance in the top of the sixth. The Blue Sox closer was good--very good--but not unhittable, as Ryan would prove. He got his bat on a 1-2 fastball, sent it to left field for a single, and provided some hope for the Rockets. Ryan made it around to third on two passed balls, and Tom stepped in with two out. Tom was patient and took four to put himself on and bring the tying run to the plate. It was Patrick W, who had tied the game with a late innings triple a month ago in the first meeting between the two Needham teams. Patrick was confident he could get his bat on one this time around, too, but he wanted to see a couple first. He took two balls. Then he swung away, put good metal on a fastball, and sent it hard up the middle. But the pitcher was able to get his glove on it and that would be the end of a brilliant season for the Needham Rockets.
Final score: Needham Blue Sox 8, Needham Rockets 5.
As predicted, this game was a tug of war that was either team's to win all the way through the last pitch. A great effort on both sides--a thrilling game to have played and coached.
The game ball once again went to the entire Needham Rockets team. Like yesterday's, this game depended on everybody doing their job. Pitchers Steven, Matt M, and Tom each put in a solid performance on the mound to keep the game within reach for the Rockets. And consistent play in the field, especially from Matt G, Patrick W, and Alex, certainly helped our effort on the mound. Roman put himself on base every time up and was a force once again on the base paths. And our two catchers, Timmy and Ryan, combined for six solid innings behind the plate. They each earned the Hustle Award today for getting their gloves on almost every pitch, hustling after the ones that did get by them, and making good throws down to second and third all morning.
Thank you to all of the Rockets and their parents for a wonderful season of baseball. The coaches are currently organizing an end-of-season celebration--most likely a pool party at Needham Pool and Racket. Look for details soon.
Tom and I will be attending the Suburban Youth Baseball League Championship Game to cheer on our neighbors as they take on Wellesley for all the marbles. The game is this Wednesday evening 7:00 at Wall Field, 1315 Washington Street, Norwood. Come join us if you can!
