Donald Pare has video evidence that baseball is indeed a game of inches.

Pare’s 11- and 12-year-old Hooksett Little League team was eliminated from District 1 play after consecutive losses, including a 5-4 setback to Salem National on July 1.

Hooksett was tied 4-4 in the top of the sixth and final frame, but a Salem batter blasted an opposite field double to right field that bounced off the foul pole, scoring two and giving the visitors a onerun lead.

In the home half of the inning, Hooksett put the tying run on third with one out after Justin Reno’s sacrifice bunt moved Jeff Arbur to third, but the first baseman remained there.

When the eventual gamewinning double pounded off the pole, Pare came onto the field to question the home plate umpire, believing the hit had found the fence in foul territory.

Following the game, Pare watched footage from a parent’s camcorder and made up his mind about the call.

“It was tough to see, but it was a great call by the umpire. After watching the tape, it hit right on the pole,” said Pare. “If that ball didn’t hit the pole, it was a whole different story.”

After dropping into the losers’ bracket, Hooksett was eliminated on Friday, July 3, following a 9-0 setback to Concord National.

In its final D-1 contest, Hooksett was hitless until the sixth inning, when Max Curran hit a leadoff single up the middle.

Hooksett performed well defensively during its stint in the tournament, committing just a single error in the game against Concord.

“They had fun and they extended their season a little bit,” said Pare. “They saw what it’s like to play at the tournament level. They enjoyed the whole ambiance, and it was important for them to be able to perform on this stage.”

Eligible to return next season are current 11-year-olds Chris Pare, Jake Clark, Kevin Taylor, Alec Patterson and Tom Bolduc.

This year’s 12-year-olds were Jeness Peterson, Sean Benoit, Josh Cote, Jeff Arbur, Justin Reno, Jason Toledo, Max Lurran and Alex Stoltman.