STOUGHTON, Mass. – Stoughton responded from a rough start and battled back to edge Dennis-Yarmouth 5-4 behind a strong relief appearance from junior Mike Gallagher in the First Round of the MIAA Division 2 South Sectionals.
The Dolphins opened up with a double and a triple and scored twice off Stoughton starter Mike Dixon (3 IP, 4 ER). But the Black Knights answered in the bottom half with a run of their own when senior captain Pat Jackman scored on a passed ball. Although they still trailed, Stoughton head coach Mike Armour knew it was important for his side to respond.
“It was very important,” Armour said. “I think our guys came out blazing. At no point did they feel pressure in the sense that they believe in themselves.”
After giving up a lead off walk in the second, Dixon retired the next three batters and Stoughton responded with a big offensive half in the bottom of the second.
Will McGrath led off with a single and scored on a deep double from Kaleb Ballou. Ballou advanced to second on Zack Gibb’s sacrifice bunt. Jackman and Jovani Pires both walked to load the bases and senior catcher Mike Connelly ripped a shot down the right field line that brought Ballou and Jackman home to give Stoughton a 4-2 lead.
The Dolphins flipped the script again, batting in two more runs in the top of the third to knot the game 4-4. The Stoughton offense had a golden chance in the bottom of the third as McGrath, Ballou and Gibb loaded the bases, but a strikeout and two pop ups ended that threat.
Gallagher took over on the mound in the top of the fourth and picked up two strikeouts, but Stoughton’s offense once again was silent in the bottom half.
“We were dying to get a fifth run across the plate because we know what type of pitcher Gallagher is,” Armour said.
The Dolphin’s first two batters reached to start the fifth, but Gallagher retired the next three hitters and Stoughton’s offense was able to break through again in the bottom half.
But the youngster’s confidence didn’t waver, as the rookie dropped a bloop single into right field that scored Weir for the eventual game winning run.
“He just got the bat on the ball,” Armour said. “They were playing in and it was just well placed and got the run in and it turned out to be the difference.”
Gallagher made quick work in the sixth and seventh innings, facing just seven batters between the two innings, including a game-ending strikeout.
Stoughton will now travel to third-seeded Greater New Bedford Voc Tech on Monday with a 4 p.m. start.