BY SAPNA PATHAK
There were looks of shock, gloves thrown in frustration and bats shoved hard into their bags. There were even some tears shed in the dugout after Hooksett’s 11- and 12-year-old Little League all-stars dropped a 5-4 decision to Auburn.
But don’t worry, the hard feelings won’t last long.
In fact, they will certainly disappear, and the squad will look like its regular self by Saturday, June 30, the next time Hooksett takes the field for a game.
“We’ll hold on to this until Saturday,” said Hooksett catcher Evan Hockensmith after the loss, “then we’ll come and be ready to play. I thought we were in it until the end there … I thought we could get out of trouble.”
With starter Mike Beaudet removed after hitting the 85-pitch maximum in 5 2/3 innings, reliever Kyle Macy took the mound with a two-run advantage, two out and two on.
Trailing 4-3 after first baseman Dan Quinn scored on a passed ball, Auburn third baseman Matt Jackson dug in with teammates Kevin Gonzalez and Jared Gaudreau on second and third, respectively.
Macy delivered, and Jackson smacked a hard single up the middle, plating Gaudreau and Gonzalez for the game-tying and game-winning runs.
It was the first contest in this year’s District One tournament for both teams. The win moves the victors to a battle with Bedford on Wednesday, June 27, while Hooksett dropped into the losers bracket and plays an undetermined opponent.
“This time we knew Auburn was comparable to us,” said Hooksett manager Jeff Robideaux. “Speedwise we weren’t burning up the base paths, but neither were they. We had our No. 1 pitcher up there as did they, so I kind of thought it would be an even match-up.”
Hooksett entered the fourth inning leading, 2-0, but Auburn tied things in the home-half of the frame. Hooksett reclaimed the lead, 4-2, in the top of fifth when Riley Cote drew a leadoff walk, Beaudet followed with a single and Hockensmith came through with an RBI single to score Cote.
Beaudet came around on Macy’s RBI single before Auburn’s Jackson made a nice bare-handed play to force out Hockensmith at third base to end the inning. Leadoff hitter Zach Albert and Beaudet scored Hooksett’s first two runs, respectively.
“We had some hits, some good hits,” said Robideaux. “But we also had some balls bounce the wrong way. ‘This is what it feels like to lose a close game. It stinks, but it’ll pass,’ is what I told them after the game in the dugout.”
Rounding out the Hooksett roster are first baseman Zach Parker, who’ll take the mound in Saturday’s game, Rick Prindiville, Tommy Richer, Josh Wilson, Joe Duffy, Seth Gonya and Ryan Houde.
Auburn’s all-stars include Lucas Heggelund, Gary Archembault, Patrick Pariseau, Tyler Boyce, Zach Prunier, Alex Phillips, Nick Blais, Tyler St. Jean and Ben Trickett.