Milford's Carson Houle slides safely into home during Tuesday's American Legion game against Salem. For more photos, go to the Photo Album.
SALEM – There were plenty of hits and runs at the Salem High School baseball field on Tuesday.
The same can’t be said of daylight.
Milford Post 23 and Salem Post 63 combined for 27 runs on 33 hits in eight innings of play, as the American Legion game was called because of darkness with Milford up 14-13.
The result left both sides unhappy, as Post 23 blew leads of 8-0 and 12-4, while Post 63 battled back to within one run with a chance to tie or take the lead in the sixth, seventh and eighth innings. But it was the lack of opportunity in the ninth that had the home side upset.
Still, Salem coach John Ryan was glad to see his team battle back to make a game of it.
“It was the entire team,” he said. “They all pick each other up. They’re a tight group. We have a very small squad. Everybody plays and we rely on everybody. Everybody is contributing at some point. I think they’re a good group of guys.”
Going into the game, both Ryan and Milford coach Mike Caravella had an idea that Post 23 might get on top early. That was the case for Milford against Salem starter Danny Peters.
The first four Post 23 batters reached base and scored to open the first inning, and Milford (5-4) scored four more times in the top of the second to lead 8-0.
But Salem (3-6) cut the deficit in half in the bottom of the inning, scoring four runs and chasing Milford starter Ryan Sharpe before he could record an out. In one-plus inning of work, Sharpe allowed four runs – three earned – on four walks and two hits.
Salem's Dan Morin delivers a pitch during Tuesday's game.
Peters’ numbers weren’t much better, as he allowed four more runs in the fourth inning, pushing Milford’s lead back to eight. For the day, Peters allowed 12 runs on 14 hits and three walks in 3 2/3 innings.
After getting its eight-run lead back, Milford began to struggle.
The Post 23 offense scored just two more runs in the final four innings, stranding six runners.
Carson Houle came on in relief of Sharpe and faced the minimum through 2 1/3 innings. But in the bottom of the fourth, Salem scored twice on four hits, including a RBI triple by Matt Loguidice, making it 12-6.
Milford made it 13-6 in its half of the fifth, but Post 63 responded with three more runs to make it 13-9. Both teams scored the same total of runs in the sixth, and Milford’s lead was down to 14-12 heading into the seventh.
“Not a very good pitching effort,” Caravella said. “We pitched from behind the whole game. I was surprised our pitching failed us. No first-strikes, pitching from behind all day, and the infielders get back on their heels. The ball gets put in play and all of a sudden its E-6 or E-5.”
Milford’s four pitchers – Sharpe, Houle, Matt Clark and Tyler Milbert – combined to allow 12 hits and nine walks. Salem got the lead runner on in five innings, and four of them came around to score.
“It’s discouraging,” Caravella said. “I guess decent teams find a way to win. They’re coached well and we let them hang around. Good teams are going to take that opportunity. They played better than we did.”
Milford's Macyn Clifford tries to wipe the dirt from his eye after being called out on a play at the plate.
Salem added a run in the bottom of the seventh to make it 14-13, and with two outs, the go-ahead run was at first. But Milbert struck out Matt Gioia to end the inning.
Post 63 had the tying run on base with two out in the eighth, but again, Milbert struck out Loguidice to end the inning, and the game.
Offensively for Milford, Milbert was 4-for-5 with two doubles, a triple, three runs and four RBIs. He was also intentionally walked in the eighth inning.
Chris Larro was 3-for-4 for Post 23, with a triple, one run and four RBIs, while Matt Caravella went 3-for-5, drove in two runs and scored three more. Tyler Manoogian also had two RBIs and Mike Tenore added three hits and two runs scored.
Salem was led by Rob Libertore, who went 3-for-5, scored two runs and drove in another. Brendan Dunn (three runs scored), DJ Swarbrick (two hits), Joe Morin and Loguidice drove in two runs each.
Morin also came on in relief of Peters, holding Milford to two runs on seven hits and one walk over 4 1/3 innings.