BY SAPNA PATHAK
Kevin Jackson knew the season would come to an end. He knew there would be a time where he’d have to thank his young players for their effort and hard work and congratulate them on their accomplishments competing in the 11- and 12-year-old Little League District 1 tournament.
He just didn’t think it would come so soon.
After an emotional walk-off win against rival Hooksett in their first tournament game, the all-stars of Auburn Little League dropped their next two match-ups and were eliminated from this year’s tournament.
“They all have such great attitudes. You won’t see these guys hang their heads,” said Jackson.
“They’re a great bunch, always smiling no matter what the score looks like. Sure they’re competitive, but they try to make the best out of every situation.”
The all-stars looked to bounce back from a 21-1 loss on June 27 to powerful Bedford when they hosted Windham on Saturday, June 30. Despite the 9-5 loss, Auburn held true to its manager’s assessment, enjoying time after the game to mingle with Windham players and families over water slides, arcade games, hot dogs and hamburgers in celebration of Auburn Day.
Windham jumped on Auburn starter Dan Quinn early, taking a 4-1 lead after two innings. Gary Archembault put his team on the board, scoring on a Windham error in the second.
Quinn scored on a passed ball in the bottom of the third to cut the deficit to 4-2, then handed the ball to reliever Matt Jackson in the top of the fourth after allowing his fifth run.
Jackson was touched for three runs in the frame before striking out Windham left fielder John Carn to end the inning.
Tyler St. Jean scored on Quinn’s RBI single in the fourth, and Tyler Boyce came around on Jared Gaudreau’s RBI double in the home-half of the fifth. Gaudreau scored Auburn’s final run when Kevin Gonzalez drew an RBI walk.
“They were tough to the end,” said Windham manager Art Mullin. “They loaded the bases three times and made us work to get out of it. They were so hospitable, inviting us to stay for the activities going on for Auburn Day. I talked baseball with the Auburn coaches and (Little League) president. It was a very nice gesture.”
Against Bedford, Gonzalez scored Auburn’s only run on a Jackson double. Archembault and southpaw Ben Trickett couldn’t stifle Bedford’s explosive offense.
“I was upset for a couple of minutes,” said Trickett after the Bedford loss. “Then my teammates told me to calm down and I was doing better. I was nervous when they kept hitting those home runs, but … Oh, well.”
Despite the two losses, which made Auburn eligible for the Fraser Tournament, Trickett and his teammates had the chance to celebrate one well-earned win.
Hosting Hooksett June 25, Auburn battled back from a 4-2 deficit to take home a 5-4 win. Jackson, already responsible for a walk-off win in the league playoffs, provided the game-winning two-RBI double.
“It was pretty much the same kind of pitch,” said Jackson of his at-bat against Hooksett hurler Kyle Macy. “We had two on, two out and they were leading by one run so I figured he’d give me something to work with. I wasn’t that nervous, I just waited for it like my dad (Kevin Jackson) told me.”