ATTLEBORO, MA - The "comeback kids" that are the Attleboro High School Blue Bombardiers were down 4-0 heading to the bottom of the fifth to rival North Attleboro, then staged an eight run rally and and added two more an inning later for an important divisional win.
North starting pitcher Dave Manning entered the inning having put up a dominant performance, holding a no-hitter through the first four. The first batter of the inning, Keith Drucker, the usual first baseman playing at second, broke it up with a single to shallow center. Another single by catcher Ryan Bowen and a walk to left fielder Travis Tanguay loaded the bases, however they would force Drucker out at home on a short hit by DH Zack Larkin.
That, however, would be one of their final stops for a while as the Blue Bombardiers batted around, and then some, scoring eight men off of three singles, two walks, a double and an error. When all was said and done, all but Drucker scored for the Bombardiers, though he did knock two of them in before the inning ended. The Red Rocketeers brought in Corey Walker for Manning - who ended up finishing the game pitching 4.92 innings giving up eight runs (seven earned), six hits, and five walks while striking out six. Walker would send down the next batter to retire the sides, and he would finish the game, going 2.08 innings giving up two runs, one hit, one walk, and a strikeout.
On the mound for Attleboro, junior southpaw Steven Knox had his struggles, going only 3.4 innings giving up four runs, five hits, and two walks while striking out two. North first broke onto the board in the third when two singles in the first three at bats by the center fielder Ryan Kennedy and DH Jake Lang were turned into two runs by a pair of singles from left fielder Matt Hardy and the first baseman Chris Bredberg only a few batters later. The first three batters in the next inning got on and Ventola ended up driving the first two in off of single.
Attleboro's biggest offensive contributors were Drucker, going two for four with two RBIs, and their third baseman Brant Greenleaf, who in another impressive showing from the bottom of the order, going two for three with two runs, an RBI, and a strikeout. For North, the honors would go to Cote, putting up a good three for four with a run, and their left fielder Hardy, who went two for four with an RBI and reached base on an error.
Errors were an issue for both sides, with the Rocketeers having four and the Bombardiers two, which will become something for them to work on in practice in the coming days.
Both teams return to action Monday with Attleboro hosting the Davenport division leaders Oliver Ames while North Attleboro will play host to league newcomer Milford.