Dover rallies to beat Lebanon in American Legion tournament

NASHUA – Dave Rouleau knew his team was in a big hole.

Dover Post 8 trailed 7-1 going into the bottom of the fourth inning, but Rouleau had a feeling his team had enough time to chip away. Lebanon Post 22 did its best to help Dover out.

Post 8 scored three in the fourth and seven in the fifth to take the lead and seven Lebanon errors helped Dover hang on for a 15-10 win Friday in the first game of the American Legion baseball tournament at Holman Stadium.

The win advances Dover into the winner’s bracket, while Lebanon heads to the loser’s bracket on Saturday.

Robert Greenleaf picked up the win for Dover in relief, allowing three runs over the final five innings, and added a two-run single in the fifth. Mike Calabrese drove in three runs for the winners, including a two-run homer in the fourth while Steve Carlberg was 2-for-3 from the leadoff spot with three RBIs.

“We brought him in at a real tough part of the game and he kind of quieted everything down a bit until we got the bats going,” Rouleau said. “That was a big hole, but I knew we’d chip away and shut them down.”

Lebanon got three RBIs from Dalton Campbell, who had a two-run double in the first inning, and Cam Blewitt was 3-for-5 with two RBIs and three runs scored. Cooper Hardy also scored four runs for Post 22.

But the errors did in Post 22.

“We’ve got a real young ball club and to get here, this is something with these guys,” Lebanon coach Robert Woodward said. “We’re still really learning, but you’re not going to win any ball games here by making seven errors.

“I liked the early lead, but it’s early and I know how this is going to go in the heat. You’re going to go through some pitchers, you’re going to have to push some people. You can’t make that many errors is what it comes down to.”

Dover will now face Bedford at 7 p.m. Saturday in the winner’s bracket, while Lebanon will take on Rochester at 12 p.m. in the loser’s bracket.