Greenfield Post 81 is ready for the states.
The locals swept through the Western Massachusetts Junior American Legion Baseball District Championship, punctuating their title with an 11-5 win over Chicopee Post 452 Sunday night at Veterans Memorial Field in Greenfield.
Post 81 seized control of the contest with six runs in the third inning and four more in the fourth to build a commanding 10-0 lead.
Owen MacPhee’s squeeze bunt pushed one run across, then Tyler Townsley and Colin Cloutier had consecutive two-run singles later in the frame.
Ben Arnold smacked a two-run single and Cloutier added a run-scoring single in the fourth.
Arnold finished with three hits, while Townsley and Cloutier had two apiece.
Tyreece Younger pitched five innings of two-hit ball with eight strikeouts and only one walk to earn the mound win.
Greenfield hosts the Massachusetts Department Junior Legion State Championship beginning Saturday. Greenfield is scheduled to play the 7:30 p.m. game against a team to be determined.
On Saturday, winning pitcher Kyle Spencer, Adam Hallenbeck and Tyler Miner combined on a no-hitter to help Greenfield blank Ludlow, 12-0, in six innings.
Greenfield’s offense got hot early; it scored three times in the first, twice in the second and broke it open with a five-spot in the third. Townsley delivered the key hit, a bases-loaded triple.
Tionne Brown had another stellar game for Post 81. He registered three hits, stole three bases and scored three times. MacPhee also came big with two hits, two RBIs, three runs scored and a pair of thefts. Luke Viens chipped in with two hits, and Arnold, Cloutier, Owen Phelps and Tyler Lavin each chipped in one hit and one RBI.
Hamp 1, Greenfield 0 — Colby Lander fired a no-hitter to help Northampton Post 28 eliminate Greenfield Post 81 from the Senior American Legion District playoffs with a 1-0 victory Saturday at Arcanum Field in Florence.
Hamp scored its only run in the bottom of the fifth when Kevin Banas hit a one-out single, advanced to second on a passed a ball and scored Joe Afflitto’s single to left-center field.
Post 81 threatened in the seventh. Tyler Townsley reached second base on an infield throwing error with one out. After Lander got the second out, he intentionally walked Julian Diamond, then a passed ball on a 2-0 pitch moved the runners to second and third, and he threw an intentional fourth ball to Gavan Rice to load the bases. Seth Gewanter came up and ripped a line shot to the right side, but second baseman Joe Afflitto darted to his left snagged the ball before it hit the ground to end the contest.
Afflitto had two of Hamp’s six hits.
Lander only finished with three strikeouts and three walks, but Post 81 head coach Tim Capuano was impressed with Lander’s variety of offerings.
“You have to give (Lander) credit, he wasn’t overpowering but he mixed his stuff very well,” said Capuano. “He really kept us off balance, especially with his first pitches, and he was hitting his spots. He got a little wild toward the end, but for the most part he didn’t make any major mistakes.”
Tyler Charboneau, who fanned four and walked two in 4 innings, suffered the loss. Quinn Doyle finished up in relief.
“I think we underperformed this year,” offered Capuano. “We had a lot of talent, we had some good bats and good arms, but I think overall everyone was a little disappointed with finishing where we did, but that’s baseball.
“The future looks good,” he added. “I had a great group of guys, we definitely had a lot of fun, and it definitely was a pleasure to come to the field.”
Hubie’s 1-2 weekend
Hubie’s Tavern & Restaurant went 1-2 in three Mickey Mantle Baseball League road games over the weekend.
Hubie’s split a doubleheader with Dalton Sunday. Hubie’s won the opener, 7-3, while Dalton took the nightcap, 8-5.
Peyton Doherty and Jordan Grenier both had two hits in the opener for Hubie’s. Grenier earned the pitching win, while Jared Ackerman got the last out for the save.
Dalton earned the split with an 8-5 verdict. Ackerman and Cody Letourneau doubled for Hubie’s.
On Saturday, Hubie’s dropped a 9-5 decision at South Hadley.
David Adams led South Hadley with four hits, including a triple.
Doherty smacked four hits and Jordan Loughman added a double and two RBIs for Hubie’s.