The Walpole American 12-year-old All Star baseball team's philosophy is simple. Be patient at the plate and then put the ball in play, because then good things happen.
It took a little while for those good things to happen in yesterday's New England Regional game against Essex Junction (Vt.), but they did, as usual. And again, those good things resulted in a crooked number on the scoreboard as the Americans rallied to a 10-4 win.
"Hitting is always contagious," said Walpole American manager Brian Oberacker. "All you've got to do is get up there, see that ball and put it in play. And we strung a couple together, luckily, in the sixth inning."
Down 4-3 heading into the bottom of the fifth, Kyle Donnelly gave his team a chance when he led off and greeted new pitcher Aaron Gryzch with a single to left.
"Once we started to put the rally together I thought we'd come out good because once someone starts, everyone else hits," said Donnelly.
Pinch hitter Mike Cabral then came off the bench and sparked his team with a double to right field to put both he and Donnelly in scoring position.
"Just put the ball in play and good things happen when we do," said Cabral of his mindset at the plate. "I felt good because we did (put up a big inning Monday) and we needed runs because we were down, 4-3."
Sam Falkson's infield hit brought in Donnelly to tie the score as Mike Rando came in to pinch run for Cabral before P.J. Hayes' bunt allowed him to reach first and load the bases.
Although Tim Sullivan struck out for the inning's first out, Matt Bender put his team ahead to stay when he ripped a double past the Essex Junction right fielder, who then threw the ball away as everyone came home and Bender advanced to third.
"All the coaches, they just pump us up. Usually the leadoff man tries to get on and that's what gets us started," said Bender. "I wasn't that nervous. I was a little nervous but I knew we'd come through because we are a good hitting team."
Walpole added three more runs but the damage was done. For the fourth straight game, the Americans hit double digits as they have scored 41 runs over that span.
