NORTH EASTON, Mass. - Entering this week, Oliver Ames hadn't had too many comeback wins this season. But after Friday, they have two straight.
After scoring the tying run in the bottom of the seventh inning, senior John McMillan had the game winning hit in the eighth inning, a two-run shot down the left field line to lift the Tigers to a 3-2 win in extras over rival Stoughton.
McMillan had a chance with the bases loaded in the fourth inning with the Tigers down 1-0 but grounded into an inning ending double play. The senior more than made up for it by leading off the bottom of the seventh with a single into right. Pinch runner Larry Kelley stole second and scored on a two-out single from junior Chris Romero to tie the game 1-1.
After Stoughton retook the lead by a run in the top of the eighth, McMillan once again found himself in a position to help OA out. Brendan Welch led off with a single and advanced to second on a base hit from Nolan Edwards. Both Welch and Edwards advanced a base on a passed ball. With one out, McMillan roped a shot into the outfield, scoring both runners for the win.
“I was just trying to get the ball on the bat and make something happen and I was able to do that,” McMillan said. “I wasn’t thinking too much about the play in the fourth, I was just trying to improve on it and help out.
Welch got the win on the mound, striking out 12 batters for the second straight outing, allowing one earned run on seven hits in a complete game, eight inning effort.
“Welch hadn’t pitched in a week so he needed some work to get ready for the tournament. And he performed really well, he was great,” OA head coach Leo Duggan said. “What can you say? To me he’s the best pitcher in the league. He had 12 strikeouts and only one of the runs was earned. Give Stoughton credit, they came to play. [Sullivan] did a nice job.”
Stoughton, who needed a win to earn a playoff berth, got a tremendous start from sophomore Ryan Sullivan. The southpaw went seven innings for a no decision, striking out five while giving up seven hits.
The Black Knights got on the board first in the third inning. With one out, Luke Butera reached second on an error in left field and then stole third without a throw. Junior Jake Gibb roped a double into right field to plate Butera for a 1-0 lead. Stoughton threatened again in the sixth inning as three singles from Gibb, Doug Seaman and Mike Manning loaded the bases but Welch picked up his seventh strikeout of the day to get out of the jam.
After pitching seven solid innings, Sullivan was the catalyst in giving the Black Knights the lead again in the top of the eighth. The sophomore led off with a single and advanced to second on a passed ball. A ground out from Gibb moved Sullivan over to third and a bloop single just over the infield from Alex Acciavatti brought Sullivan home.
But Welch, Edwards and McMillan came through in the bottom half to give the Tigers their 14th win of the year.
“I’m proud of these guys, I’m proud of the fight that they had, they left it all out on the field like I knew they would, it just hurts right now,” Stoughton head coach Mike Armour said. “It wasn’t for a lack of effort for these guys. Welch threw a hell of a game as did Sully. I think anyone who was here, it was one of the best high school baseball games I’ve seen. Our guys have nothing to hang their heads about.”
It was the second straight game Oliver Ames has had to rally from a deficit for a win. On Wednesday, the Tigers dug out of a 3-1 hole for a win over North Attleboro.
“Usually we haven’t come back, but against North Attleboro we were over 3-1 but we came back to win which was good,” Duggan said. “And then today we just waited to the seventh to start our rally I guess. Give the kids credit, they came to play. We want to get a home game so this was good.”
OA enters the D2 South bracket as winners of seven of their last eight and and have a chance of earning a home game.
“It’s great, McMillan said. “It gives a lot of momentum going into the playoffs coming off exciting games and hopefully we can keep it rolling.”
Ryan Lanigan can be contacted at [email protected] and followed on Twitter at @R_Lanigan.