BY SAPNA PATHAK
For the second year in a row, Dan Keleher grasped for the right words to comfort his players after a premature postseason exit.
And for the second year in a row, he couldn’t find them.
Upset as the second seed in the first round of last year’s Class L baseball tournament, the boys of Salem baseball faced the same scenario in this year’s playoffs. The No. 2 Blue Devils were bounced, 2-1, by No. 15 Concord on Thursday, May 31, leaving Salem wondering how many more seasons it would have to sit and watch another team win the coveted Class L title.
“I make the season count. We do everything to win games,” said Keleher. “But tourney-ball is different.
It’s almost like the top four teams get the unlucky draw because the bottom teams bring one good pitcher to the early rounds, and it’s a one-game thing.”
Admittedly speechless after the upset, Keleher said when he does address the team, the focus won’t be on missed opportunities but on two months of successful baseball leading up to the postseason.
Salem starter Connor Nolan finished the season giving up two runs in seven innings of eight-hit ball.
Crimson Tide ace Jon Andersch baffled the Blue Devils, allowing one run and striking out 15.
The Blue Devils scored their lone run in the second inning when first baseman Brian White came around on an Evan Valcourt hit. The Crimson Tide came back in their half of the fifth before taking the lead in the sixth.
With two outs and a runner on third, the Blue Devils had a chance to score when Keleher called for the runner to steal home.
“We weren’t doing much with this kid (Andersch),” said Keleher. “We just figured we’d go for it, but they made a good play, a good catch at the plate, and it didn’t work out for us. It was late in the game, we were running out of innings and had to try something.”
Second baseman Dan Savastano recorded the Blue Devils’ second hit, while White and center fielder Matt Hardy drew walks to reach base.
“There wasn’t much noise after the game,” said Keleher. “I couldn’t speak, they couldn’t speak. We have a whole season of positives to reflect on … but no championship to show for it.”