‘One of the best’ – Pelham finishes third among 10- and 11-year-old all-stars

Salem Editor — Wed, 18 Jul 2007 16:29:00 GMT

It wasn’t Pelham’s week.

Five days after losing in the winners bracket finale of the District 1 10- and 11-year-old Little League all-star tournament to Goffstown, 7-2, Pelham again fell, this time in the losers bracket final, to Hooksett, 10-2.

Though Pelham threatened several times in both games, it struggled to plate runners and couldn’t contain its opponents’ potent offenses.

Still, manager Jay Sullivan quickly pointed out finishing third in the district is impressive.

“We started the tournament with 21 teams, scored 26 runs in the first three games and it’s been a little quiet since then, but I’m very proud of these kids,” said Sullivan. “I told them to hold their heads up high because we proved we’re one of the best teams in the state.”

Prior to the tough five-day stretch in which Pelham managed four hits in each contest, it began the tournament by handily defeating Lamprey River, 10-2, crushing Manchester South, 13-3, and edging Suncook, 3-2.

In the Hooksett loss, Pelham scored its first run in the third inning when James Sullivan led off with a triple and Jon Saurman knocked him in with an RBI single.

Its other run came in the bottom of the fourth. Sullivan drew a two-out walk. After advancing on a passed ball, Sullivan was caught between third base and home on a Saurman single. While in the rundown, Sullivan allowed Saurman to reach third and crossed home just as Hooksett’s catcher dropped a return throw.

Against Goffstown, Zak Conway and Saurman hit back-to-back second-inning singles, and Joe McArthur was hit by a pitch to load the bases.

After Conway was thrown out at home when Bryce Brown reached on a fielder’s choice, Dustin Lubinger brought home a run on a sacrifice fly to deep left field to tie the game, 1-1.

The only other offense for Pelham came in the bottom of the sixth. Saurman hustled down the line to earn a single on an dribbler to second base, McArthur drew a walk, Lubinger singled, and James Sullivan walked to earn his team’s second RBI.

The elder Sullivan said his team will continue playing non-divisional games throughout the summer.

Game notes

Against Hooksett, Sullivan compiled a double, a triple, a run and a walk. Saurman slugged two singles and brought a runner home.

Slattery and Kevin Cheam each singled twice, and Ryan Frank and Brown added base hits. Conway walked twice and McArthur once.

Against Goffstown, Saurman had two of the team’s four hits and a walk, and Lubinger had one hit, in addition to his sac fly RBI.

Cheam had the team’s other hit. Sullivan had two walks, including an RBI, and Dan Spicer was hit by a pitch and reached on an error.

McArthur also reached base twice after he was hit by a pitch and walked. Bryce Santos drew a base on balls, and Harley Kearny reached on a fielder’s choice.

Pelham News : Hooksett

‘One of the best’ – Pelham finishes third among 10- and 11-year-old all-stars