Big sixth inning lifts Nashua North baseball past Nashua South

NASHUA – A four-run sixth inning helped the Nashua High School North baseball team surge past Nashua South 8-6 on Thursday at Holman Stadium.

The sixth inning was unusual in that in the top of the inning, North was able to score four runs without a hit. Then in the bottom half of the inning, South scored three runs of its own with only one hit. The two teams combined for seven runs with one hit.

“I was really proud of the way my team battled,” South coach James Gaj said. “We were down 3-0 and then 7-3. However, this game is a big deal to these kids. They are playing in a big stadium with all of their friends in the stands and they made some not great fundamental plays.”

In the other dugout, North (4-4) came into the game focused.

North opened the scoring in the top of the first with an RBI single by cleanup hitter Andrew Ashworth. The Titans added two more runs in the second inning when leadoff man Grant Coy had a one-out, two-run single.

“The bottom of lineup was key,” Coy said. “They took walks, poked some (hits) through and helped the team and I was lucky to be in a spot to knock them in.”

South (3-6) then crawled back, tying the game at 3-3. Playing a huge game for South was Mason Matylewski who reached base all four times with three hits and a Titans error. Matylewski also had three RBIs and scored a run.

Throughout the game, South pitching was having difficulty getting out the bottom of the North lineup, as the Titans last four hitters scoring six out of their eight runs.

After the game was 3-3, the wild sixth inning occurred, as it appeared the pitchers started to tire and the pressure on the students who played at Holman Stadium in front of a large crowd where all coming into play.

“It has been a weird year with the weather so sometimes it is hard to bounce back when your team is in a unique spot,” Gaj said.

After adding on an insurance run in the top of seventh on a Tony Gallinaro single, North took the lead for good.

“My team hasn’t come out this crisp all season,” North coach Logan Gillis said. “We will take the win any way we can get it. It was nice that the bottom of the lineup stepped up tonight, but we hope the whole (lineup) comes through one of these games.”

South looks to bounce back Monday against Merrimack, but they might have a makeup game sooner, weather permitting. Likewise, North plays Saturday against Keene in a makeup game, assuming the weather changes.