Wood Bat League's Windham team stages rally in seventh inning to defeat Freeport

Windham freshman Ethan Clapp throws heat in one of
the three innings he was on the mound during the final
Wood Bat League baseball game of the season against 
Freeport at Windham on Tuesday, July 19.
PHOTO BY MATT PASCARELLA     

By Matt Pascarella 

Windham’s Wood Bat League team trailed 4-2 against Freeport going into the bottom of the seventh inning but the Eagles made up the deficit and earned a 5-4 victory in the final game of the summer season at Windham on Tuesday, July 19.

In the seventh inning, Windham freshmen Harley Hinton and Ronan Mace both walked. Then sophomore Josh Plummer walked to load the bases.

Windham junior Erik Bowen walked. Hinton scored and it’s 4-3, Freeport.

Windham was two runs away from a win. Windham senior Ethan Barker crushed a base hit and drove in the needed runs to send Freeport home with a loss.

Plummer said he had to get home no matter what in that final inning of play, even if it meant going through the catcher. Team chemistry was way better in the last inning than previously in the game.

According to Plummer, once Windham got one player on base in the last inning it gave them hope and they were able to come alive and make up those runs.

“I knew we had been battling all game and we could come back and win it,” said Bowen. “We stayed together and kept our heads up.” 

Bowen said defense was sure-handed and everyone stayed together and kept fighting until the end.

Freeport scored two runs in the first inning. 

In the fifth inning, Barker singled. Then senior Bob Wing doubled to bring in Barker, and Windham trailed, 2-1.

Freeport knocked in two more runs in the sixth inning.

Windham sophomore Cayden McCartney walked in the sixth inning. McCartney then stole his way to third after a passed ball. Shortly after, he stole home. Freeport led 4-2.

“I think it’s like team spirit; we were all like let’s just win this game,” said Windham freshman and pitcher Ethan Clapp, who pitched three innings. “I think fielding was great, Wing did really good at third base.”

Windham defense held Freeport to four runs in the top of the seventh inning.

“Our approach at the plate this game was excellent,” said Wood Bat League Windham coach Rob Hamilton. “We were looking for one pitch, we stayed selective, stayed patient. And the players that we needed to get the hits, did.”

Hamilton said Windham pitched very well and defensively made the plays they needed to make that helped them to win the game in the end. <

Windham varsity baseball prevents Bonny Eagle shutout

Windham High junior Ethan Barker runs to first base after 
driving the ball to the outfield during a prep baseball game
against Bonny Eagle at Windham High School on Tuesday,
May 24. PHOTO BY MATT PASCARELLA 

By Matt Pascarella

Windham varsity baseball prevented a shutout by Bonny Eagle on Tuesday, May 24 at Windham when they scored in the bottom of the third inning.

After two scoreless innings, Bonny Eagle scored several runs in the top of the third inning.

Unfortunately, the Scots scored three more runs before the end of the game and got an 8-1 win.

“It’s rough,” said Windham junior Blake Peeples who was on the mound for a little over six innings. “I thought we had them in the first inning and second, but then we just kept making errors. We lasted the whole game, so we’ll get credit for that.”

Peeples said communication went well. He added the team can improve for next game by working harder, staying together ... and just play the game of baseball.

The Scots got things going with a double and then a runner was hit by the pitch. Windham was able to end the inning with two runners on base and one in scoring position.

In the top of the third inning, Bonny Eagle knocked in five runs.

Windham junior Ethan Barker singled on a line drive to right field. Junior Ryan Bernard walked. Sophomore Login Desrochers singled on a ground ball to the shortstop. This brought in Barker. It’s now 5-1, Bonny Eagle.

“I think we played pretty good defense in the outfield, we got the ball in quick,” said Barker. “And we were swinging [the bats] a lot more.”

Barker said he thought they stuck together as a team and did not get down on themselves.

Bonny Eagle scored one run in the fourth inning.

In the seventh inning, Windham picked a runner off at first base who was caught in a pickle. Windham also stopped a runner at home. Despite this, Bonny Eagle scored two runs.

Windham varsity baseball coach Cody Dube said this was one of the best opposing pitchers they’ve seen this season. He worked quick, threw strikes, and got after Windham. Dube said it’s tough when you have a pitcher in a groove like that.

He pointed out that the Eagles are making similar mistakes on defense they have all year; instinctual things like not knowing ahead of time where the ball needs to go. He said more reps and situational awareness and things will start to come together.

Dube said that Blake did a nice job on the mound, and got a lot of weak contact, which made his batters look uncomfortable. Windham also had good outfield play. <