Sweeney stays alive

NASHUA – It was one play in a game full of them, but it might have kept the season alive for Sweeney Post 2.

With the bases loaded and Dover Post 8 in the middle of a rally, Sweeney brought Connor Lyons on in relief with one out in the top of the sixth.

Lyons got the first batter he faced, Connor Gaffney, to ground a ball between the mound and third. The Sweeney pitcher jumped off the mound, scooped up the ball and fired to catcher Aaron Mersereau, getting the out at home.

Dover’s Connor Rittenhouse then hit into a fielder’s choice to end the inning, and despite another rally by Post 8 in the eighth, Sweeney held on for a 10-8 win Tuesday in the first of two games in the American Legion senior state baseball tournament at Holman Stadium.

“That might have completely changed the complexion of the game,” Sweeney coach David Flurey said. “I don’t think our third baseman would have made that play. (Lyons) is a young kid, he jumped off the mound and fielded his position and that may have been the biggest turning point of the game.”

Lyons pitched 3 2/3 innings of relief, allowing three runs on two hits and two walks, and Brian Shea got the win after going 5 1/3, striking out seven while allowing five runs on nine hits and four walks.

Drew Merrick had a big day at the plate, going 3 for 5 with three RBIs, including a two-run single in the first that helped Sweeney (16-6) answer the three runs that Dover (13-9) scored in the top of the inning.

Brendan Sullivan was also 3 for 3 with two runs scored and an RBI, as the shortstop had a streak of nine straight plate appearances where he reached base safely ended with a sacrifice fly in the seventh.

Cy Carver took the loss for Dover, as he lasted just 2 1/3 innings and allowed six runs on seven hits and a walk, but the bigger story for Post 8 was who didn’t pitch.

“Our ace (Casey Aubin) was asked if he was ready to go and he told us he wasn’t, so that’s what we did,” Dover coach Jake Bishop said. “I think everybody here was wondering why that kid wasn’t pitching. We asked if he was ready and he chose not to be.”

Dover took a 3-0 lead in the top of the first, including a two-run double by Rittenhouse (3 for 5), but Sweeney tied it in the bottom of the inning and then added three in the third and two in the fourth to make it 8-3.

Three times, Dover loaded the bases loaded the bases with one out, but couldn’t get anything in the third, and had a rally ended early in both the sixth and the eighth innings.

“We couldn’t finish it,” Bishop said. “We got as close as we could and couldn’t push that one over.

“I’m proud of the kids. If you had asked me (earlier in the season) if we would be here playing, I probably would have said no. To battle back and persevere, the guys that stuck together, those are the guys I’m happy for.”

Sweeney moved on to face Exeter Post 32 in the second game Tuesday. The winner would play Rochester in the championship game Wednesday, needing to win twice to take the title.

“It’s a great win for the kids,” Flurey said. “They’ve got a lot of heart and a lot of fight.

“When you get down to the final four teams in the state, you kind of expect a game like that. The two kids who threw for us did a great job and gave us an opportunity to win. You’ve got to give Dover a lot of credit. They were one swing away there a couple of times from changing the complexion of the game.”