Wednesday, July 27, 2011
We Win! - East Side Claims First Ever State Crown with Sweep of Lowell
Hudson, MA --- Pitcher Bryan Perez hurled 12 innings to win both ends of the doubleheader as East Side Post 201 concluded its trek
through the loser's bracket en route to sweeping Lowell Tuesday night and earning the program's first-ever Massachusetts Department
(State) Tournament title. The Raiders never trailed on the day, taking the opener 11-1 before winning the night cap 10-7.
East Side advances to the Northeast Regional Tournament which begins Thursday, August 5th in Old Orchard Beach. According to the
national website, Post 201 opens plays at 9:30am versus the New York state champion.
The Raiders are just the third team from Worcester to win the state title, with Worcester Post 5 emerging victorious in 1928 and Grafton
Hill Post 323 taking home the 2003 title.
In game one, Post 201 took the lead in the second following a RBI single to center field by Nate Frederick.
East Side added a run in the third as Ysander Figueroa doubled down the left field line.
Lowell cut into East Side's lead with a ground out in the fifth that helped plate R.J. Noel cross home plate following his triple to right
center.
Kyle Brenner grounded to first and Steve Flynn singled to center field as each would help produce a run in the bottom of the fifth.
In the sixth, Mike Mastrototaro launched a lead-off home run to left field for a 5-1 lead. A run-producing-single by Regan Aghdam
pushed the lead to 6-1.
East Side put together a five-run eighth to end the game early. Flynn blasted a grand slam to left field and Perez singled up the middle to
bring in the final run of the contest.
Perez scattered seven hits over eight innings and allowed one run and struck out nine.
Costas Tingas and Patrick Florence combined to set down nine Raiders via a strikeout.
Mastrototaro and Figueroa collected three hits as Joe Consolmagno, Aghdam and Flynn each picked up a pair. Flynn drove in five runs
while Consolmagno scored three times. Aghdam and John Boyd each crossed home plate twice.
Derek Reed accounted for two of Lowell's seven hits in the game.
In the nightcap, East Side lit up the scoreboard with a pair of runs in the first. Brenner produced a run on a ground out to get things going.
Figueroa hit his 15th double of the year to help another run come home.
The Raiders increased the lead in the second frame. Mastrototaro singled to center for the first tally. Brenner walked a run in just before
Figueroa connected on a 2-RBI single.
Lowell cut its deficit in half with a three-run fourth. Chad Gens doubled to left to bring in the initial run and later scored on a throwing
error. Florence singled to right center for the third marker.
East Side responded with four more runs in the bottom of the fourth. The Raiders loaded the bases to set the stage for a RBI hit by
Figueroa and a two-run knock by Flynn. A Lowell miscue following the hit by Flynn allowed another run to score.
Gens singled through the left side to help Lowell score one of two runs in the fifth. The other score came on a wild pitch on a dropped third
strike.
Post 87 scored its final two runs of the contest as Gens connected on a two-run shot to left center in the top of the ninth.
Perez earned his eighth win of the season and 25th in his American Legion career as he surrendered only two hits over four innings of work
and fanned five batters. Aghdam started the game and allowed five runs - two earned on six hits and amassed three strikeouts. Figueroa
struck out two batters in the final inning.
Kyle Edwards gave up eight hits over five innings while striking out six batters. Nick Goodwin did not allow a run in the final three
frames.
Figueroa and Gens each recorded three hits and four RBI for their respective club. Post 201's Flynn and Post 87's O'Connor each hit safely
twice in the evening game. Brenner and Flynn drove in a pair of RBI each as Consolmagno and Aghdam scored two runs apiece. Lowell's
Gens and Reed also crossed home plate twice.
Box Score | Box Score | Photos