Lebanon
Elkouh, an Enfield resident who attends Phillips Andover (Mass.) Academy, entered with one out and the bases loaded, but struck out a batter and got another to weakly pop out to end the game.
Post 22 improved to 10-2 and continues to lead the state’s District A, Division 1 standings. Milford, second in Division 2, dropped to 9-4 after having beaten Lebanon by a run during the teams’ first meeting of the season last week.
“We have a lot of confidence in Cedric because he’s been in big spots over the years in this program,” said first-year Post 22 coach Travis Pelletier, noting that Elkouh is a Lebanon “swing player” who also suits up for the post’s senior team. “We were trying to get him some rest today but big moments call for big players.”
Elkouh also delivered a triple at the plate and Woodsville High’s Seanon May whacked a single and a double. Catcher Andrew Hadlock produced two singles and starting pitcher Eli Jaynes, a fellow Lebanon High student, allowed six hits and two runs while striking out one batter and walking four.
Hadlock, a rising sophomore and Plainfield resident, is built like the football lineman he is in the fall and has been one of the team’s standouts, Pelletier said.
“He’s very strong for his age, but he’s also versatile,” the coach said. “He went in at first base earlier this season and had two of the nicest fielding plays we’ve had all season. And he can play third, too.
“He’s going to give you maximum effort and you have to love that.”
Milford scored the game’s first run during the second inning but trailed, 3-1, at the end of that frame. Post 23 produced a 3-3 tie during the fourth before Lebanon scored another run in its half of that inning.
Milford went up, 5-4, during the fifth, but Lebanon exploded for four runs when it next came to bat. Hadlock and Derek Griffin singled to lead off and Trey Parker sacrificed them along. May and Kimball Union Academy’s Kyle Hammond followed with singles and Lebanon High’s Hunter Boutin drew a walk to load the bases with one out.
Playing to his growing, aggressive reputation, Pelletier called for a suicide squeeze play. May charged down the third-base line and Charlie Goodrich dropped a perfect bunt towards first base that scored what proved to be the winning run.
“Their pitcher was consistently around the plate and he had kind of a slow delivery, so I was confident Charlie would get a ball to put down,” Pelletier said. “I probably like calling it more than other coaches.”
Goodrich is a Norwich resident and rising Hanover High junior who also runs cross country and plays basketball. He said he was drilled in proper bunting fundamentals by former Post 22 juniors and current Marauders coach John Grainger. That work has continued under Pelletier, the basics of letting the ball hit the bat and keeping one’s bottom hand mobile repeatedly reinforced.
“You have to wait until you’re sure the pitcher is coming to the plate,” said Goodrich, who added to the surprise of his move by squaring around at the last possible second. “And you can’t put it back at him or it’s an out.”
The excitement generated by Lebanon’s offensive outburst dissipated along with its pitching game during Milford’s last two at-bats. May, who had relieved Jaynes, was himself replaced by Emrys Elkouh with two out in the sixth inning. However, after Elkouh walked and hit a batter, he gave way to Kyle Pelletier, who took Post 22 into the seventh. When Pelletier faltered, in came Boutin, who soon handed off to Cedric Elkouh.
“It’s the time of the season when the leash gets shorter,” Travis Pelletier said. “You don’t want to take away anyone’s confidence, but hopefully it’s a teaching moment and they’ll do better next time. You’re going to have moments when you shine and others where you need your teammates to pick you up.”
Post 22 hosts Weare and Meredith, a combined 4-16, on Tuesday and Wednesday before concluding its regular season against visiting Jutras (11-3), the Division 2 leader. The last two of those three contests will be staged at Colby-Sawyer College. That allows the Post 22 seniors unfettered access to Lebanon High’s field for practices leading up to Friday’s opening game of the state tournament in Nashua.
Post 22 faces a week’s break between the end of the regular season and the beginning of state tournament play at Manchester’s Gill Stadium. Travis Pelletier said he may try to arrange for a scrimmage or two so as to keep his team sharp.
“It’s not ideal, but the good thing is we’re healthy,” the coach said. “I have high expectations. We want to be playing the best we can and we haven’t hit that yet.”
Notes: Andover’s notable alumni include New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick, actors Jack Lemmon and Humphrey Bogart and U.S. Presidents George W. Bush and George H.W. Bush. … Another 2016 Andover graduate is former Hanover High player Matt Whalen, who’s headed to Bowdoin. His father, Dartmouth coach Bob Whalen, attended the Post 22 senior game that followed the junior contest. He carried a stopwatch and timed Lebanon shortstop Caleb Broughton running from the batter’s box to first base on one play. Broughton, a rising Lebanon High senior, has reportedly also attracted the attention of Ivy League member Brown.
The 2016 American Legion World Series will take place in Shelby, N.C., from Aug. 11-16 and is sold out, with a waiting list for any possible tickets that come free. … Eleven former Legion players competed in the recent Major League All Star Game in San Diego. Among them were Bryce Harper, Kris Bryant, Craig Kimbrel, Madison Bumgarner, Max Scherzer and Jackie Bradley, Jr.