BY RYAN O'CONNOR
His team’s year didn’t go as well as expected, but Post 79 manager George Abood said his team showed, during the last week of the season, its true capabilities.
“Disappointing. I don’t know what other word to use,” said Abood. “We had a good roster of veterans, but it didn’t work out. I had higher expectations for this year than happened. We still beat the good teams when we played our game, but with the talent we had, I think we should have made it to the playoffs.”
Finishing the season 8-12 in district play and 12-15 overall, Post 79 beat out-of-district foes Merrimack, 20-7, and Goffstown, 19-11, and lost to Concord, 7-6, and to Salem, 16-3.
But the highlight of the season, said Abood, came on July 24 against Portsmouth, a top-tier team fighting for a playoff spot.
In the 10-7 victory, Hooksett’s Kalvin Fosher, leading the team in hitting all season, knocked two doubles and blasted his fourth home run of the year in a three-RBI performance.
Matt Moreau smashed another home run, one of two hits, and Peter Gray belted a three-run shot.
Matt Gutterson and Jay Freethy combined for five hits, including a double by Freethy.
Dylan Clark, a 16-year-old, pitched eight innings, scattering seven hits and three earned runs to pick up the victory, and workhorse Andrew Schnaars of Bedford pitched the final two innings, holding the opposition to two hits and one run.
Post 79 loses 12 players off the current squad, but Abood said the team will maintain a strong core to develop around, led by 16-year-old speedster Sean Lyons of Bedford, who hit .340 at the plate and played good defense in the outfield, and occasionally the infield, all season.
Freethy also had a great season, said the manager, batting .370 and contributing stellar defense at third base and filling in at shortstop when needed.
Though none of his pitchers was consistently exceptional, Abood said Hooksett’s Matt Boyd was tough to beat on occasion.
Other locals on Manchester Post 79’s squad include Candia’s Keith Trombley and Brandon Czaja, Hooksett’s Nate Abbe and Bedford’s Bryan Lacaillade.