American Legion roundup: Rochester moves on

NASHUA – Jarrid Nason likes to work quickly.

Once the Rochester Post 7 pitcher found his rhythm, Concord Post 21 didn’t have much of a chance.

Nason breezed through a complete game, allowing one unearned run on five hits and three walks, to help Rochester to a 9-1 win over Concord Sunday in the losers’ bracket of the New Hampshire American Legion baseball tournament at Holman Stadium.

The win sends Post 7 to a Monday game at 4 p.m. against Nashua Coffey Post 3, which lost to Bedford Sunday night 3-0. Concord was eliminated from the tournament.

For the second time in as many games, Concord’s starting pitcher couldn’t escape the first inning, as Autrey Gates recorded just two outs while giving up three runs on one hit and four walks. That was after Post 21 had taken a 1-0 lead in the top of the inning against Nason, but after getting the lead, he was able to relax.

“When we came in and scored three runs in the bottom half of that inning, it helped me out a little,” he said. “I got right in my rhythm early. I started throwing strikes and went from there. I built off my fastball and had my curveball working well and my changeup was going where I wanted. I felt really good.”

His offense provided plenty of help, especially in a five-run fourth inning that broke the game open for Rochester. Bobby Dow had a two-run single in the inning as Post 7 sent 11 batters to the plate. Rochester added another run in the fifth and didn’t look back.

After two errors led to a loss to Bedford on Friday and a high-scoring, but sloppy, win over Lebanon Saturday, Post 7 coach BJ Gagnon was happy with his team’s performance.

“We finally started to play Rochester baseball a little bit,” Gagnon said. “We played great defense, and combine that with a great pitching effort, you’re going to win a lot of baseball games.

“(Nasson) got in a little bit of a groove and he just kept rolling. He seemed to have them out front a lot. They had a lot of balls off the end of the bat. You’ve got to credit our catcher ( Dow) and our pitcher for a great game.”

Rochester will face Nashua in the first game Monday at 4 p.m., while Dover and Bedford will meet for the second time in the tournament at 7 p.m.

Dover 11, Sweeney 6

Josh Young overcame a tough start and Ian Seawards hit a three-run home run to help Dover stay alive Sunday in the American Legion tournament.

Young gave up four runs in the first inning, but settled down to go eight-plus despite allowing 15 hits. Jack Garnhart came on in relief in the ninth and loaded the bases with none out before closing the door on Sweeney.

Seawards homered in the first inning to put Post 8 up 4-0, but Sweeney got it all back in the bottom of the inning. Dover took control of the game in the fourth, taking advantage of an error to score four unearned runs.

Brad Crickard had three hits and drove in two runs for Post 8, while Steven Carlberg (two RBIs) and Andy Johnson (two runs) had two hits each.

Sweeney got three RBIs from Cody Marchant and Zach Beckwith was 4 for 5 with two runs driven in. Mike Beaudet took the loss, giving up nine runs on nine hits and two walks in six-plus innings.

Bedford 3, Nashua 0

Bedford’s Tom Hudon and Nashua’s Cody Gilchrist locked up in a pitcher’s duel, with Bedford coming out on top. After scoring 31 runs in its first two wins, Coffey Post 3 was shut out for the first time this season.