Post 27 Junior Legion Drops to 4-4 after Two Losses

The Londonderry American Legion Post 27 Baseball team’s week started on a high note, but two losses in the latter part of the week dropped the squad’s record to 4-4.
On Monday night, June 17, at home, Post 27 fell behind early to Salem’s Post 63, but four runs in the fourth, followed by some strong pitching, secured the team’s fourth win of the season.
Jace Ruggiero pitched the entire seven-inning game for the 4-2 victory, striking out five, walking two, and allowing six hits.
The game started a bit shaky for the home squad. One run was scored by Salem in the first inning, as a result of a two-out error committed on a line drive to right field.
In the third, another two-out run was scored with a single to centerfield, plating the Post 63 runner from third, who had hit a triple earlier in the inning.
Londonderry batters quickly nullified those runs with four of their own in the bottom of the fourth.
Lead off singles by Brendan Fitzgerald and Sully Daron set up runs off the bats of Liam Parent and Liam Killelea, who both got RBI singles with one out.
Connor Loughlin followed with a double to right field, scoring the third run in the inning.
Ruggiero helped his cause with a single to shortstop, driving in the fourth and final run of the game.
Ruggiero also hit a triple in the sixth inning, with no one on and one out, but was unable to score.
Ruggiero, Fitzgerald, and Loughlin all had two hits in the victory.
Two days later, at home, against the Derry Post 9 team, Londonderry posted five unanswered runs in the first four inning, but fell 6-5 in the later half of the game.
Post 27 had three pitchers take to the mound, striking out 11, walking 10, and allowing just three hits.
The major damage was done in the sixth inning, where Post 27 pitching walked five and hit one batter to give up five runs.
Ruggiero and Loughlin both had two hits and accounted for their team’s only hits in the game.
On Friday night, June 28, in Exeter, Londonderry had another early lead dissolved as Post 27 saw their 3-0 lead after three flop to a 9-5 loss, starting in the fourth inning.
Londonderry sent four pitchers to the mound in this game, but were only able to strikeout four batters while walking six. Exeter Post 32 managed a total of 11-hits in their victory.
Post 27 batters had nine hits, with Ruggiero going 3-3 at the plate and getting a double.
Ryan Gaspie and Mackey each had two hits in the game.