Late Homers Doom Dedham Babe Ruth

As the summer turns the corner and we enter the month of August, summer baseball continues to be at the forefront in Dedham at .

Dedham Senior Babe Ruth lost a close 8-6 decision to South Boston in game one of the best-of-three series for the South Shore Senior Babe Ruth League championship Sunday evening.

South Boston’s Joe Galuetz hit an opposite field home run to right to tie the game at 6-6 in the top of the seventh with one out. And cleanup hitter Sean Provezano hit a two–run shot off his shoe tops, to give South Boston the come-from-behind win in the final frame to snatch a victory away from Dedham.

"The second [home run] kind of put the nail in the coffin,” said Dedham manager Kevin Hampe, "then we had to come back from two runs and it was tough."

South Boston’s Tanner Linehan fought off numerous Dedham chances late including a bases loaded jam in the sixth, to get the complete game win.

"Their pitcher did a nice job, especially when we had the bases loaded and we didn’t get any runs," said Hampe.

Linehan was able to get two quick outs in the sixth before allowing a walk to Dedham’s Mike Ryan and a single to Anthony Valentino. Kyle Downing then walked to load the bases with Dedham clinging to a one-run lead.

"That was crucial," said Hampe. "We could have blown the game open."

Instead, Linehan got the strikeout after getting ahead in the count, to end the inning, keeping his team within striking distance heading into the last frame.

Meanwhile, South Boston took advantage of control issues shown by Dedham hurlers. Both Dedham pitchers Mike Sabatino and Connor McDonald combined to walk 10 South Boston batters.

"The more guys you put on, the more pressure you put on your defense, and when you don’t make the plays and they get extra runs it can cost you the game," said Hampe. "Tonight we had quite a few."

Despite the free passes, both Dedham pitchers pitched well as they scattered five hits throughout, with South Boston getting four of those five hits in the top of the seventh.

Dedham did jump out early by scoring two runs in the first. Scoring on a South Boston error, and a sacrifice fly by Ben Walsh.

South Boston tied it up in the third, but Dedham went back up in the bottom half when John Bethoney hit a sacrifice fly to center to score Jeremy Clifford who had doubled to lead off the inning for Dedham.

Defensively, Dedham botched a rundown in the third that cost them two runs, but Valentino made a show-stopping catch in the second inning with a runner on, that brought the Dedham fans to their feet.

In the end, South Boston’s bats awoke just in time and Dedham couldn’t get the big hit against Linehan who showed off his knuckle curve when ahead in the count, which kept Dedham hitters guessing.

"[Linehan] hung in there," said Hampe. "He changed speeds and he threw that knuckle curve that threw our guys off."

Dedham will face South Boston Monday night in game two of the series.