BY SAPNA PATHAK
It was as difficult as Dave Angus imagined.
Standing in the dugout, facing his 11- and 12-year-old players, the Concord National manager struggled to find the right words in his final postgame speech. After an emotional 10-9 loss to Salem American in this year’s District 1 Little League majors baseball tournament, Angus relayed to his all-stars the only thoughts he could muster.
“I’m proud of them … I’m just really, very proud of this group of boys,” said Angus after the game on Wednesday, July 11. “This was a prime example of two great teams meeting. That’s what this tournament is all about. It seems like life or death out there when you’re playing, but every coach has to make that farewell speech, and it’s one of the hardest things you have to do.”
Hosting the victors in the losers bracket semifinal, Concord climbed back from a 5-0 deficit to take a 9-5 lead. But Salem’s timely hitting against Concord hurler Nathan Strowzewski fostered the come-from-behind win.
Strowzewski took over with two out in the first inning when starter Cody Ferns was touched for 5 runs on 46 pitches.
Concord’s offense came alive in the bottom of the third inning after Strowzewski led with a double. Braden Smith
reached on a fielder’s choice before Cody Barnhart’s RBI single scored Strowzewski.
Cam Alosa knocked in two runs on a double to the center-field wall, while Connor Angus did the same with a bases-clearing triple to score Alosa and Austin Erickson. Connor Angus came around on Alex Bashios’ two-run home run, putting Concord ahead, 7-5.
“I knew we’d come back because we’re a good hitting team,” said Dave Angus. “But they had a hard time with Salem’s reliever. He was the difference in the game. We couldn’t get to him and instead, Cody had a hard time with the umpire’s tight strike zone.”
Salem pitcher Phil Smith entered the game after Bashios’ home run, quieting Concord’s bats for most of his outing.
National’s lineup did manage two runs in the bottom of the fourth on a two RBI triple from Barnhart.
“We’d just come off a big win (against Goffstown), and we really thought we could keep it rolling,” said National’s mentor. “But the deeper you stay in the tournament, the better the teams you’re going to be seeing. This really could’ve gone either way, because the competition’s that tight.”
The game marked Angus’ last as a Little League manager. Rounding out his roster were Sean Mamos, Harrison Murphy, Jon Dunn and Chris Bartlett.