Down two runs, down to their final out, the Pelham 11- and 12- year-old Little League baseball all-stars refused to go quietly. They made a racket, rattled Suncook, but ultimately succumbed, 5-4, on Monday, July 6.

Pelham also fell to neighboring Windham on Friday, July 3, 7-1. With the two losses, the locals were eliminated from the District 1 tournament.

But that eventuality was in question because of some fine efforts from Pelham’s all-stars, including Ryan Rondeau, who relieved Michael Coupal in the bottom of the second inning and allowed no earned runs in four innings of work.

Rondeau, entering with two runners aboard, gave up a two-RBI triple to the first batter he faced, Matt Chartier – one of two three-baggers for Suncook’s leadoff hitter – but little after that.

In fact, he stranded Chartier by fanning Suncook’s Nos. 2, 3 and 4 hitters.

Suncook’s first hitter in the third singled, but center fielder Mike Pelletier made a strong throw to second, catching the batter-runner trying to stretch the hit into a double. Rondeau allowed no more base runners and finished with nine strikeouts.

Pelletier’s play wasn’t Pelham’s lone defensive gem in the D-1 tourney.

Right fielder Brendan Smith made a sterling grab against Windham, stretching his long frame full out to snare a drive near the foul line.

“That kid made the best catch I’ve ever seen at this level,” said Pelham’s manager, Mike Coupal. “I don’t know how he held onto it, he hit the ground so hard.”

Smith left the Suncook game in the fourth when he crashed – face first – into the metal fence down the rightfield line at Muldoon Park, abruptly ending pursuit of a long foul fly. He walked to his parents’ car under his own power, and his coach said he required some stitches.

Pelham’s bats were alive early in the Suncook contest.

Pelletier opened the game with a two-strike triple stroked to right field. He scored on Chris Benjamin’s RBI groundout.

After Suncook scored three times in the bottom of the first, Pelham quickly tied the game. Hannah Paitchel smashed a double to left center.

She scored on Smith’s double to a similar spot. Coupal plated Smith with an RBI groundout.

Suncook relief pitcher Shaun Davis was a tough chore, setting down nine straight Pelham hitters in innings three through five. When Paitchel opened the sixth with a smash fielded by the second baseman and the next batter whiffed, Pelham didn’t quit. Tommy Cahalane battled and reached on an infield single.

Rondeau’s grounder was fielded by the third baseman, but the hurried throw was wild, and Cahalane raced all the way around to score, with Rondeau on third. Keen-eyed Zach Masiello worked a fullcount walk, but Pelletier was thrown out at first by a step or two to end the game, but not Pelham’s season.

Bryce Brown, Mitchell Kamal, Jimmy Russo and Derek Sage join the rest of their mates for more diamond action this summer.

“I don’t really know what to say right now,” said the elder Coupal, whose team plans to play in a tournament in Salem beginning July 18 and another in Tyngsboro, Mass., in late July. “I’m disappointed, of course. It was a well-played game, and they beat us.”