By Chris Paul
The American Legion Post 27 Senior Baseball team’s Summer season came to an end over the weekend, heading into the District B tournament as the number three seed, but exiting after a win followed by two losses.
The Post 27 squad finished their regular season with a 12-7 record and were headed into the state tourney winning six of their last seven games, but two losses on Sunday, July 23, put an end to their season.
The team started out strong in the tourney, winning 9-2 against Post 22 of Lebanon, behind pitching from four players, with Kevin Rourke getting the win pitching two innings.
Jayden Hamilton took the mound for three, Joey Cafaro was in for one, and a third with Owen Carey retiring the last two batters.
Rourke and Liam Stott both had three RBIs in the game, going three for four at the plate. Two of Stotts three hits were doubles. Jack Marshall had two hits, three RBIs, and four runs in the first round victory.
In the second game of the tourney, on Sunday, July 23, Post 27 fell behind 5-0 late in the game to Post 3, of Nashua, and wasn’t able to recover, falling 5-2 for their first loss in the post-season.
Connor Fennell took the loss, pitching five inning, giving up three hits and three runs with three strikeouts and three walks.
Cafaro finished the game, on the mound for one inning and allowing two more runs.
Stott once again led the team in hitting, with two. Drew Heenan, Ben Martin, Zach Green, and Brady Anderson each had a hit.
Later in the day, the Londonderry Seniors had their season ended by the Salem Post 63 squad in a tight, 3-1 battle.
Post 27 trailed 2-1 after the first inning and only gave up one run late in the seventh inning, but came up short in the bottom of the final frame, despite a promising double hit by Ben Martin with one out.
Mike Crowley suffered the loss, pitching five and two-third strong innings with five Ks, four walks, five hits and two runs. Ryan Williams finished the game with two Strikeouts a walk, two hits and a run.
Londonderry’s only run came in the first inning, when Stott reached first on an error by the second baseman, allowing Marshall to cross the plate from third.
Five Post 27 players had hits in the game with Hamilton getting two, while Anderson Stott, Martin and Marshall each had one.
Martin and Stott’s hits were doubles.
Second year head coach, Chris Tutt, mentioned after the final game, “The past two seasons have been so rewarding in terms of what we have been able to accomplish. While we weren’t able to accomplish our main goal of winning a championship, I can certainly finish this season with a sense of pride and happiness knowing what we did do.”
Tutt added that the program is starting to bounce back, saying, “From summer 2021 to summer 2022, we were able to turn the program from barely being able to field a team, to a full roster of 18 kids. We were able to make it to the playoffs for the first time since 2015, and even made a state championship appearance.”
This Summer, with the help of his father, Chris Tutt Sr., took on the administrative role and reintroduced a junior team and debuted a Prep team. He finished by adding, “Personally, this season has been a dream. I would be remise not to thank my assistants, Sam Carey, Andy Luckhardt, and Ben Byerly. Also, Brent Demas for being my mentor and the person who has taught me so much about coaching and Bob Stuart, Commander of Post 27, for his continued support. I look forward to seeing how the future of Post 27 baseball grows.”