Arlington Implodes in Final Inning

The Arlington Lou Tompkins 16-year-old All Star team nearly won Tuesday, despite being down 17-4 to Wellesley in the game's final inning.

With two outs in the top of the seventh inning, Wellesley second baseman Nick Dudek fouled a pitch straight down. The ball bounced off the plate and straight back up, striking him hard above his left eye.

Wellesley, already playing with the minimum number of players, forfeited the out, ending the half inning. If Dudek couldn't take the field, the team would have also had to forfeit the lopsided game.

Dudek trotted out to left field, not known for seeing a lot of action, with an icepack in hand. Arlington's Paul Brooks then fouled off the inning's first pitch in his direction. Dudek dropped the icepack, sprinted toward the line and made a diving attempt.

"You know what? He's a baseball player," pitcher Tim Superko said of his injured teammate. "He's one of the most committed kids on this team."

Wellesley (9-6-1), riding a seven-game winning streak, held on for a 17-5 win at Arlington's Spy Pond Field. Superko, a rising junior at Wellesley High School, only gave up one earned run in the complete game win.

He also contributed at the plate, hitting a three-run double in the second inning to give Wellesley a 5-0 lead and adding an RBI later in the game. Teammate Conner Clark topped his performance, belting a two-run triple in the first inning and a three-run triple to cap off the team's 10-run seventh inning.

Shortstop Kevin Superko had a two-run triple during the seventh-inning rally, while teammate Ned Holmes had a two-run single.

Dudek and third baseman Harry Cramer also knocked in runs during the onslaught. Outfielders Ryan Buzzell and Justin Chow had RBI earlier in the game.

Arlington (5-3) scored four runs in the fifth inning off four Wellesley errors.

With two outs and the bases loaded, Will Birmingham crossed home plate on an errant throw. Starting pitcher Sam Donnelly followed, reaching on an error which put two more across. Brooks then did the same, scoring Donnelly and making it 7-4 Wellesley with two innings to play.

Arlington used five pitchers in the game. Brooks added an RBI single in the seventh inning, making the final 17-5.