BY SAPNA PATHAK
Dylan Brandy didn’t sleep much the night before; he tossed and turned in his bed in anticipation of the next afternoon’s challenge.
And though the final score didn’t show it, Brandy met that challenge.
Taking the mound against Bedford Little League’s 11- and 12-year-old all-stars on Saturday, June 30, Brandy produced a solid 83-pitch effort in a 5-2 District 1 tournament loss. The Salem National hurler challenged Bedford’s batters for five complete innings, two days after Bedford’s offense impressed in a 21-1 win over Auburn.
“I heard they crushed Auburn, so I was pretty nervous. I couldn’t really sleep on Friday night, but then once I got to the game and on the field, I was better,” said Brandy. “I just wanted to keep our team close and hoped we could come out and beat them. We didn’t have a lot of offense, but at least they didn’t crush us.”
Indeed, Salem National’s lineup did not look like the one that notched 12 runs in a 12-0 shutout against Manchester Westside on June 27, and held off Derry National in a 5-4 win on Monday, June 25. The loss dropped the squad into the tournament’s losers bracket, where it faces the winner of Derry American/Atkinson on Thursday, July 5.
Bedford starter Greg O’ Brien held Salem National scoreless until the top of the fourth, when Joe Lemanger drew a leadoff walk. First baseman John Longstaff reached base on a Bedford error, allowing Lemanger to score on the miscue, cutting Bedford’s lead to 2-1.
Brandy began the bottom of the fourth by striking out the leadoff hitter before giving up back-to-back-to-back singles – the last driving in two runs – for a 4-1 Bedford advantage.
But he lined a single down the third-base line leading off the fifth. Pinch runner Joe Dube replaced Brandy at first, coming around on Ryan Corbett’s RBI double.
“Dylan kept us in the game,” said George Morin, Salem National manager. “We could probably beat this team five out of 10 times, it was that even of a match-up. Maybe the 12-run win against Manchester took a little out of the offense. Who knows?”
Brandy gave up another run in his final inning, the fifth, on three hits. Salem National had a chance in its half of the sixth after Sean Watson reached base on a walk from Bedford reliever Brian Collins, but Longstaff, Jared Williams and Dube were retired.
Rounding out Salem National’s roster are Zack Sylvester, Dan Morin, Dom Gigante and Sean Towler.
“You never know what you’re going to get with 12-year-olds. On any given day they can be on their game and then have a rough time the next,” said Morin. “We’re not done, we’re just going to have to work a little harder now we’re in the losers bracket.”