EASTHAMPTON — As Northampton Post 28’s Matt Bouley stepped up to bat as a pinch hitter in the top of the second inning, he had the bases loaded and a seven-run lead looking to add to the early offensive explosion.
“I tried to work the count, because everyone’s better when they’re ahead in the count,” Bouley said.
Bouley faced Easthampton Post 224 reliever Mike Baldwin after relieving starter Aidan Burke, who lasted a little over an inning, as he was pulled after allowing six runs and left two baserunners.
“Working the full count you still gotta protect and look for your pitch,” Bouley said.
Bouley’s patience paid off when he sent a full count pitch into the left field gap, clearing the bases and giving Northampton at 10-0 lead.
“I’d been popping the ball up lately so I really tried to get through on the ball early and get ahead of it,” Bouley said. “He grooved one for me, and I just tried to square it up best I could.”
Post 28 ultimately won 10-2 in Monday’s senior American Legion baseball action at Daley Field.
Bouley’s double capped off a 6-run second inning for Hamp, but the offense got off to their hot start thanks to a big first. Scoring started quickly, as the first runs of the game came on a one-out, two-run single by Devin Kellogg. He then scored on a wild pitch, giving Northampton (5-1) a 3-0 lead. The fourth came from a Jack Power RBI-single, scoring Andy Grygorcewicz, who reached on a single.
“We were looking for more energy today and because we had our full squad here today, I was looking to try and get in as many guys as possible,” Northampton coach Chuck Holt said. Holt had 13 different players bat and used three pitchers throughout the game.
Post 28’s offense reached its peak in the second inning, when the first six batters reached base successfully. After back-to-back singles from Jackson Heath and Devontay Edwards, Mike Mieczkowski knocked in a run with a single. The following batter was Kellogg, who added another run with an RBI single, giving Northampton a 6-0 lead. Kellogg had a big game finishing 3-for-4 with three RBIs, scoring twice.
“It’s really easy to hit when these guys are out here cheering for me,” Kellogg said. “They’re all my friends, so it’s really nice to have them all rowdy.”
After the Kellogg at bat, Will O’Connor drew a walk which loaded the bases. Grygorcewicz reached on a fielders choice, where Mieczkowski was thrown out at home. Nick Heafey reached first safely after an error by the Easthampton shortstop as another run scored, making it 7-0.
Bouley’s bases clearing triple gave Northampton a 10-0 lead. The hot start was enough.
Post 224 (3-4) scored their two runs in the bottom half of the second without recording a hit. Northampton starter Jake Brittain dealt with control issues early in the second, as he loaded the bases after hitting Hunter Brooks, walking John Carey and hitting Tyler Keeney.
With the bases loaded, Bennett Kelly knocked in a run on a sacrifice fly, scoring Brooks. Jake Constantine reached on an error by Northampton’s third basemen, and Carey came in to score.
“It’s always a big game against Hamp,” Easthampton coach Kevin Wilby said. “We just wanted to make sure we had the bats out, everything as sharp as possible, because when you play a team like that, any mistake is huge.”
Both coaches had different reasons to keep their players focused after a wild first two innings. One team needed to protect a lead, while the other looked to overcome a large deficit.
“I was proud of them,” Wilby said. “I thought that even though it was a lopsided game, you would not have really known that. They were into the game and still cheering each other on.”
Easthampton saw a solid relief effort by Mike Baldwin, who threw five inning, allowing one earned run in the second inning. Baldwin gave up one hit the rest of his appearance.
Northampton stayed locked in and didn’t waver with a large lead.
“Even though we weren’t scoring runs in the second half of the game, it was not because we weren’t focused,” Holt said. “Mike Baldwin was just pitching really well and we weren’t managing to get much off him.”