Admittedly, the Walpole American 12-year-old All-Star baseball team's manager, Brian Oberacker, felt his team did not come with its 'A' game in yesterday's contest with Essex Junction (Vt.) in the New England Regional tournament.
In fact, he said the Americans had their 'B' game on display at the A. Bartlett Giamatti Little League complex's Breen Field.
And at one point, it looked as if that uncharacteristically average grade would result in his team's first loss of the summer.
Then, just like that, Walpole American erased those thoughts and a late deficit with its familiar big inning - a seven-run bottom of the fifth - to roar to a 10-4 win and remain unbeaten in pool play heading into today's game with Portland North (Maine) at 11 a.m.
"It seemed like we were sleeping all game, leaving runners in scoring position again for the second game in a row," said Oberacker. "We challenged this team again and they responded with some runs. We were able to play our game with a couple hits and aggressive baserunning."
With a 3-1 lead heading into the fifth, Walpole saw its lead disappear after some wildness on the mound. Relief pitcher Kyle Donnelly walked Hudson Seman to lead off and after one out hit Frank Puleo when Oberacker went to Johnny Adams.
However, he walked the first two batters he saw to bring in Seman and cut the Americans' lead to 3-2. After a pop out to first baseman Mike LaVita, Aaron Gryzch sent a base hit up the middle to score Puleo and Zach Higgins and give his team a brief, 4-3 lead.
Gryzch then came on in relief of Essex Junction starter Steve Jurkiewicz and the Walpole bats immediately came to life. Donnelly singled to left before pinch hitter Mike Cabral laced the first pitch he saw into right field for a double.
Sam Falkson then brought in Donnelly with the tying run on an infield hit to second base. P.J. Hayes laid down a bunt and Seman, the catcher, held on to the ball as Hayes reached first and the runners did not advance.
After Gryzch struck out Tim Sullivan, Bender came through with a double to right on a 1-2 count that brought everyone home when the Essex Junction right fielder threw the ball away, advancing Bender to third as Walpole took a 7-4 lead.
"I just tried to change the game around because I was taking a lot of pitches I shouldn't have been," said Bender. "It was two strikes and I just had to protect the plate."
Adams then walked and stole second before Johnny White's comebacker was thrown away as both Bender and Adams scored on Essex Junction's fifth error of the day. White moved to third on a groundout before he stole home with a crafty slide at the plate to give his team the 10-4 lead.
Adams settled down in the sixth and got some help with a nice play Sullivan, as he dove to keep Jurkiewicz' ball from getting up the middle to force Mike Lynch at second base. Adams then struck out Higgins two batters later to end the game.
"That's been our strong point all summer long, all tournament long, is our pitching and defense," said Oberacker. "We had some good plays in the field the whole game. I think Sullivan had the play in the top of the sixth when he got that guy at second. That ball was a shot up the middle. He did a great job knocking it down and getting that guy for a big out."
Essex Junction took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first as Higgins hit a two-out single to left to score Jurkiewicz off Walpole starter Joey Guarino.
Walpole answered in the bottom half with three runs. Sullivan walked and Bender had an infield single before Adams hit one back to the mound but Jurkiewicz' throw to third was wild to score Sullivan. White's base hit to center brought in Bender before LaVita laid down a perfect bunt down the first base line as it stopped right on the chalk to allow Adams to score.
"We didn't get to play our best ball today," said Oberacker. "I think we had our 'B' game. We were lucky to capitalize on a couple mistakes. It's good to see guys coming around. Mike Cabral had a huge hit there in the sixth to get this thing rolling and I'm proud of him."
