Pond Rats Playoff Hopes Uncertain

With both teams battling for the eighth and final playoff spot, the Arlington Pond Rats relinquished an early eight-run lead Tuesday to lose to Belmont 13-11 in Senior Babe Ruth action at Brendan Grant Memorial Field in Belmont.

After falling behind 10-2 in the second inning, Belmont chipped away and then went off for nine runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to take a 13-10 lead.

"We never stopped fighting," said Belmont shortstop and pitcher Evan Nichols, who knocked in four runs during the fifth-inning barrage and then stepped on the mound to close the game.

The win should help Belmont, now 12-12, make the postseason after a 3-17 campaign last year. However, the complete playoff picture is still murky with a number of postponed games yet to be played.

The Pond Rats, at 11-11, are currently on the outside looking in, but the team, theoretically, has makeup games left against Reading and the Malden Marlins.

"I'm not sure if we're going to be able to get those games in," Pond Rats coach David Calcaterra said.

Belmont right fielder Michael Rocha led off the fifth inning with a hit. He then struck what would be the game-winning hit with an RBI single with one out and the bases loaded later that inning.

Jamie McClellen had two RBI during the nine-run rally, while Ross Hall and Matt Paolillo knocked in a run a piece.

Belmont's starting pitcher Collin McNamara crushed a two-run homer to center field in the bottom of the first inning to put his team on top 2-1. However, with McNamara on the mound, Arlington came back to score nine runs in the top of the second inning, making it 10-2.

Arlington's starting pitcher, Brandon McNulty, and catcher, David Cunningham, each had two RBI in the inning. John Lepore, David Largenton, Kyle Hood, J.P. Calcaterra and Christian Riera all knocked in one run a piece.

Belmont's Christian Raymond relieved McNamara in the second inning and held the Pond Rats scoreless over the next three innings for the win before handing the ball over to Nichols, who gave up one run.

Arlington's Byron Johnson came in to start the fifth inning in relief of McNulty. He only allowed two runs before four errors behind him prolonged the inning.