BY MATT SCHOOLEY

Bedford may have knocked off Goffstown with a 6-3 victory, but the head coaches for both teams had a feeling they may be seeing each other again soon.

Although Bedford won the winners bracket final in the 10- and 11-year-old state Little League tournament, Goffstown, with a victory in its losers bracket game,

would face a familiar opponent.

“I am confident that we’re going to win our next game, and then we’ll be right back against Bedford, playing in the finals,” Goffstown’s manager, Andy Gamache, said after the defeat on Monday, July 14.

Goffstown took a 2-0 advantage in the second inning thanks to an RBI double by starting pitcher Patrick Viviers and a run-scoring ground out by Maxx Chambers.

But Bedford struck back in the top of the third, putting four runs on the board and recapturing the lead for good.

Nick Angelini’s infield hit and Kyle Andersson’s double started the rally. Patrick McGinley drove in a run with an RBI single to set up a first-and-third situation for Kyle Finke, who dropped down a perfect bunt to score a run and advance the runner. Following Brett Silva’s RBI groundout, Finke raced home on a wild pitch, and Bedford suddenly had a 4-2 advantage.

“The big thing for us was to cut down on our swings and just make contact,” said Evan MacDonald, Bedford’s manager. “If you can do that, you can make something happen.”

Goffstown held Bedford’s offense, which had scored 35 runs in three games, largely in check. Bedford managed only six hits in the contest.

Goffstown plays Thursday, July 17, against the winner of Windham/Lamprey River and Derry American/ Manchester South, with a chance to reach the finals.

Goffstown needs two straight wins over Bedford

to take the title.

Bedford waits to play until Saturday, July 19, in title game, which takes place at Manchester Central’s complex.

 

On July 9, Kyle Andersson no-hit the Manchester West all-stars in Bedford’s 14-0 win. Andersson also hit a double and triple in the game and totaled four RBI. Patrick McGinley drove in three runs with three hits.