Post 14 No Match For Newton

In what could be a precursor to the first round of the upcoming District 5 Junior Legion playoffs, Newton Post 440 powered its way past Needham Post 14 20-6 in five innings Monday night at Memorial Park in Needham. 

Newton, which looks to be the number one seed when the playoffs roll around, jumped all over Needham, opening up a 13-0 lead after two innings.

Jack McLaughli drew first blood with a three-run home run to straightaway center in the top of the first.

Newton put the game out of reach in the second as 11 of its first 12 batters reached base. Before Post 14 could stop the bleeding, Newton had sent 15 batters to the plate,  scoring 10 runs on 10 hits to effectively put the game out of reach for the home team. Kyle Krasker and Jack McLaughlin each had two-run singles in the rally.

Four pitchers saw time on the hill, including Jake Borson for the third consecutive game, for a Needham squad that was without five regular starters.

The two teams could meet again in the postseason, which beigns Saturday.

"We had them at their place a week ago," said Needham manger Rich McIntyre. "They needed to comeback in the late innings to beat us, so we know we can do it." 

Billy Haynes went 3-for-4 with an RBI, and Peter Madson went 2-for-3 with an RBI to lead Needham.  Jack McLaughlin went 4-for-4 with the home run, two doubles and five RBI, and Kyle Krasker went 3-for-4 with three RBI, and Jake Rosenthal went 2-for-4 with a triple and three RBI to pace Newton.  Needham faces Malden at 7 p.m Friday under the lights of Memorial Park in their regular season finale.