Bedford Post 54 hangs on to beat Jutras Post 43

MANCHESTER – Tom Hudon pitched seven strong innings and Bedford Post 54 took advantage of every opportunity to defeat Jutras Post 43, 4-3, on Tuesday night at Gill Stadium.

The game was delayed for over an hour due to a thunderstorm, but that didn’t seem to affect Hudon, or the rest of the Bedford players.

“To walk away with a win was big,” Bedford coach Tim Conway said. “So much happened and we had to wait around, for the kids to come back was huge. The kids came back and played good defense and got good pitching.”

Conway felt Hudon came back stronger after the delay, which came in the top of the third inning with Bedford trailing 1-0. Post 54 tied the game in that frame, and scored two runs in the fourth to go up 3-1. Bedford took a 4-1 lead in the top of the seventh, but Jutras scored a single run in the seventh and eighth to make things interesting.

Hudon got the win, going seven innings and allowing one earned run on four hits and three walks, while striking out 11. Jordan Ford gave up a run on two hits in an inning of relief and Ian Urquhart picked up the save with a perfect ninth inning.

Clayton Welch suffered the loss, giving up four runs – two earned – in 6 2/3 innings. He struck out five and allowed just three hits, but walked three and the Jutras defense made five errors behind him.

Bedford (10-3) has already clinched a spot in the state tournament, which is scheduled to begin on July 27 at Holman Stadium.