Lawrence Little League / New England Division

“Where did the sun go?”  It was damp, chilly and the fog rolled in late in the fourth inning.

Captain Paul’s was handed a tough loss Thursday night, May 8th at Hughes Field on Eggert’s Crossing Road.  Philadelphia Insurance played a good defensive game and their bats were strong.

Philadelphia Insurance took an early 4-0 lead in the first inning and they kept the pressure on until the very end, winning 8-1 over Captain Paul’s.  The mood in Captain Paul’s dugout was a somber one, kind of like the fog.

Philadelphia Insurances’ aces Ean Dauer, Jack O’Riley and Roshan Aiyar were stellar on the mound allowing only eight hits and allowing only three of Captain Paul’s players on base.  Jack O’ Riley and Ean Dauer had a combined eight strikeouts.

For a while it seemed like Captain Paul’s could not catch a break and many of the players were frustrated with the calls made at the plate. Despite the rulings, Captain Paul’s kept digging and it was Kevin DallePazze who finally caught a piece of rawhide and singled short to left field in the second inning. He was left stranded and the side was retired.

Scoring two more runs in the third inning, Philadelphia Insurance was now leading 6-0. Down but not out it was a very determined Patrick Wert from Captain Paul’s who singled in the third and stole multiple bases putting him scoring position at third base.  Batter Matt Carson took a 2-2 count but was a struck out. With two outs Patrick Wert stole home, scoring the only run for Captain Paul’s.  It was now bottom of the third and the score 6-1.

Captain Paul’s ace Ameer Hasan took the mound in the fourth inning and disposed of Philadelphia Insurances’ batters Luke Sanjek, Ryan Shrank and Dominic Madigan each with a 2-2 count before striking each one of them out.

Philadelphia Insurances’ Ean Dauer singled again in the fifth but it was Edward Coplin’s RBI triple that plated Dauer sealing the deal scoring two runs after Jarod Vinch singled to left field plating Dauer and Coplin.

After six grueling innings, Captain Paul’s grabbed their bats and gave it one last attempt. Max Crouthamel was walked and the final hit by Captain Paul’s Andres Trujillo could not reverse the damage that was done.

“Baseball, it is said, is only a game. True. And the Grand Canyon is only a hole in Arizona.” -  George F. Will