EASTHAMPTON — A well-laid play propelled Teddy Bear Pools to pole position in the Tri-County Baseball League semifinals.
The Bears wanted to jump on host Easthampton Savings Bank early at Daley Field and play to their stout defense. They scored three runs in the first inning, all they’d ultimately need, and Tommy Weldon allowed just five hits over seven innings in a complete-game 4-2 victory. Teddy Bear Pools will host Game 2 with a chance to move on to the finals at 10 a.m. Saturday.
“Before we went out on the field (catcher/coach Andrew Serio) said jump on them early, score as many runs as we can,” Jack Boyle said.
Boyle was part of both Teddy Bear Pools bursts. Bryan Baumann opened the game with a single, then Boyle singled to send him to third. Colin Cloutier brought Baumann around with a groundout. Hector DeJesus reached first on an infield single, then an error put Pat Serio on and loaded the bases. Following a strikeout, Owen Phelps put the ball in play, and an error scored two runs to make it 3-0.
That was all Weldon needed. He struck out four in his seven innings of work, walking three. Easthampton Savings bank didn’t have a hit until Joe Jachym poked a single in the third.
“We have a great defense. I trust my stuff enough to let them get themselves out,” Weldon said.
Easthampton Savings Bank got on the board in the fifth. Cody Cavanaugh (two hits) led off with a single then stole second on a bizarre play where Andrew Serio’s throw back to Weldon careened off Tim Fay’s bat as a live ball. Fay grounded out, but it allowed Cavanaugh to take third. He came home on a wild pitch to bring make it 3-1.
“Tough games like this that are close, when you get guys on you have to find away to get to the next bag as best you can,” Cavanaugh said.
Weldon didn’t flinch over the final few innings with the score tightened. He allowed three hits but nothing too threatening.
“Sometimes with big leads, you tend to get complacent. When you don’t have that cushion, it makes you think more and stay more sharp instead of getting lackadaisical,” Weldon said.
Boyle gave him some room to work with in the sixth. Phelps and Andrew Serio reached on errors, and Phelps got to third on a fly out tag up. Boyle dropped in a single to score Phelps and make it 4-1.
“Giving Tommy that extra cushion to go back out there was definitely big,” Boyle said.
Cavanaugh gave Easthampton Savings Bank life again with its back against the wall. He reached on an error to lead off the seventh then went to third on a Josh Nohilly single. Another error allowed Cavanuagh to make it 4-2 with the winning run at the plate.
“We’re chasing three at that point. I wasn’t the big run that mattered. I was looking for an opportunity to get to the next bag and keep the line moving,” Cavanaugh said.
It could be the end of the line for Easthampton Savings Bank if it doesn’t deliver on the road Saturday. Teddy Bear Pools can advance to the championship with a win on its home field.
“That is the biggest upper hand you can have,” Weldon said. “All we gotta do is win one more.”
Kyle Grabowski can be reached at kgrabowski@gazettenet.com. Follow him on Twitter
@kylegrbwsk.