Post 14 Baseball Rebounds with Win over Dedham

After pitching well Tuesday but not getting support in the field, Needham's Allen Bailey took matters into his own hands Wednesday against Dedham.

At the plate, he crushed a two-out, bases-clearing double to left field with the bases loaded in the first inning to give his team an early 5-0 lead. Later, playing left field, he robbed a potential game-tying hit with Needham up 5-3 in the fourth inning.

With two outs and two runners in scoring position, Bailey tracked down a deep fly-ball and made a difficult catch over his head to end the inning.

Overall, the Needham Legion baseball team (2-4) bounced back well in a convincing 10-3 win at Dedham (2-4-1).

The team committed only one error, and, in addition to Bailey, center fielder Will Heines and right fielder Nick Shaheen each had nice diving catches of their own. The previous night, Tuesday, with Bailey on the mound, the team had seven errors and a number of mental mistakes in a 10-5 loss at Canton.

"You have a game like [Tuesday's]," coach John Gallello said, "and then they come back and respond. They played very well tonight."

Needham piled runs on early and then again late, scoring all of its runs in the first and fifth innings.

In the first, shortstop Sam Kane, who has started the season swinging a hot bat, doubled to deep left-center field. Third baseman Eric Arnao was then hit by a pitch, and first baseman Will Connolly singled, scoring Kane.

After a Dan Higgins walk loaded the bases, Heines walked with two outs to score Arnao. Bailey then came through with the bases juiced.

In the fifth inning, Bailey singled to get on, was pushed over by a Shaheen walk and then stole third. He scored on an errant pick-off attempt.

Later in the inning, Kane hit another double, this time scoring Shaheen and Brad Holland, both of whom walked. Kane then advanced on a passed ball and took home on a second passed ball to make the final 10-3.

Former Needham High standout Drew Nussbaum, a left-handed sidearm pitcher, took the hill Wednesday. He gave up three runs in the first inning but none after in six innings of work.

Nussbaum struck out six in the win, and Gallello also credited him with helping keep the team at ease in the field.

"They play more relaxed when Nussbaum's on the mound," he said. "He controls the game."

Holland came in for the seventh inning, striking out two in relief.

Dedham's 16-year-old starter Kevin Boudrow got the loss, giving up 9 runs in 5.2 innings. Leadoff man Mac Jacobson led Dedham hitters with three hits, including a double.