Bench Sparks Stoughton Legion Baseball's 4-3 Win Over Holbrook

The bench played a significant role in their stirring, come from behind 4-3 win over Holbrook Post 137 on Thursday night at Stoughton High School. 

After starting the season 2-11, Stoughton is 3-1 in its last four games.

Will McGrath (1 for 1, run) who had come off the bench in the late innings and backup center fielder Eric McPherson (3 for 3, RBI, 2 runs, 2 stolen bases) hit back to back triples in the 6th inning to break a 3-3 tie, and Myles Comeau, who was out of the game at the time, made a key coaching contribution from the bench to help propel Stoughton to the win.

Holbrook had jumped on Post 89 ace, Mike Gallagher, for 5 hits in the first 2 innings to jump out to a 3-0 lead.

The Stoughton coaches urged their players to "hold the line" defensively, knowing that the scrappy Gallagher would find a way to keep them in the ballgame. And that he did, as Gallagher allowed just one hit the rest of the way, despite not having his best command.   

"Mikey is a bulldog," stated Stoughton Post 89 coach, Kevin McCormick.  "We know that he's usually going to find a way to fight and get outs to keep us in it, even when he doesn't have his 'A' game."

Stoughton began to chip away at Holbrook ace, Ben Riordan in the bottom of the 3rd inning. 

Eric McPherson lead off the inning with a line drive up the middle for a single.   McPherson, one of Stoughton's biggest threats to steal, played cat and mouse with the Holbrook pitcher as he drew several throws over to first base before one finally slipped by the first baseman as McPherson scampered to 2nd base.  Two pitches later, McPherson swiped third base standing up with no outs.

Gallagher worked a walk and Stoughton's aggressiveness paid dividends as Gallagher and McPherson pulled off a double steal, with McPherson stealing home on the back end to cut the deficit to 2 runs.  

After moving to third base, Gallagher rode home with Stoughton's second run on a long sacrifice fly by shortstop Alex Fernandes to draw to within one run at 3-2.  

Stoughton tied the game an inning later as Kyle Phillips and Eric McPherson each singled, sandwiched around a Myles Comeau walk to load the bases with one out. Gallagher helped his own cause as he lifted a sacrifice fly to right field to tie the game, 3-3.

The game remained tied until Post 89 took the lead on back to back triples by McGrath and McPherson with one out.  

Stoughton threatened to break the game open as they loaded the bases with one out with the middle of their order due up in the form of Pat Raeke and Kaleb Ballou, as Holbrook called on relief pitcher, Chris Mitchell to put out the fire. Mitchell induced two pop ups to escape further damage, keeping the score 4-3, Stoughton.

Holbrook had a major threat going with one out as they put two runners on via walk and hit batsman as Holbrook's David Neil stepped up to the plate. As Neil strode to the plate, Post 89 outfielder, Myles Comeau called over Manager Jim Derochea.

Comeau had started in right field before being replaced by right hand hitting Jack Kane a couple of innings prior to face Holbrook's left handed pitcher, Ben Riordan.  Comeau, who was Neil's teammate on the Blue Hills Regional High School's baseball team this past Spring, suggested to his Manager that Kane move over four or five steps toward the right center field gap.   

The move paid off as Neil lifted a deep drive into the gap, which Kane tracked down for the second out of the inning.

With the tying run on third base, Gallagher then struck out the next batter to end the game and give Post 89 their fifth win of the year, 4-3.

"I can't begin to tell you what a huge contribution that was from a player [Comeau] who was out of the game at the time," said Post 89 Manager, Jim Derochea.  

"We have preached since day 1 for players on the bench to stay focused and that they can play a big role if they pay attention and help their teammates by picking up opponent's signs or tendencies. We urge them to constantly 'stay in the game' and use that time as a learning experience.  Myles (Comeau) input may not show up in the scorebook, but we made sure we singled him out in front of his teammates and gave him huge kudos for his contribution be.cause without it, Holbrook likely takes the lead right there," Derochea added.