AUGUSTA — Life or death?
No.
Self respect?
Most certainly.
That as much as anything is what Fayette-Staples Post 57 of Saco dearly wanted to haul home from the Maine State American Legion tournament, which commenced Wednesday at the CARA Complex.
Post 57 took a measure of self respect even as it dropped a tough 13-11 count to defending state champs Gayton Post 31 of Lewiston/Auburn, in the tournament opener.
Having once led by four runs, Fayette-Staples hauled back from five runs down to tie undefeated Gayton, only to run out of gas in the late innings.
“We never felt we were out of it,” said shortstop Sam Canales.
The loss put Fayette-Staples into today’s elimination bracket game with Brewer which was slated for 10 a.m.
Win or lose, the club was certain of a future with more baseball.
As the host team in next week’s Northeast Regional tournament, which is being staged at The Ballpark in Old Orchard Beach, Fayette-Staples is an automatic qualifier.
Ideally, Post 57 will go in with head held high.
“We want to prove that we actually belong in regionals,” said Canales.
They took a long stride toward that end by throwing a scare into the defending champs, who are now riding a 22-game winning streak.
Fayette-Staples jumped out to a 4-0 lead before the first out was recorded.
Canales and Trevor Fleurent rapped singles off of Gayton starter Corbin Hyde, who then hit Alex Newton, loading the bases.
Matt Turnage followed with a line-hugging double into the corner in left that scored Canales and Fleurent.
Jon Dupee capped the inning with a two-run single to center.
“The thing is,” said Post 57 manager Ray Petit, “we’ve got to stay on it. We’ve got to go for the throat.”
Unfortunately Post 57 lost its grip when it gave up nine consecutive runs, with the last five of those coming across in the fifth inning.
Even so, Fayette found the means to respond.
A four-run spurt in the top of the fifth, with three scoring on bases loaded walks, put it back in contention, 9-8.
Then, after Gayton tacked on another run, Post 57 knotted the score, 10-10, with two tallies in the top of the seventh.
Both came in on Jack Kenney’s two-out double.
However, that was as good as it got.
Gayton regained the lead in the bottom of the seventh, 12-10, on Mekae Hyde’s two-run homer.
“I’m happy with the way we battled,” said Petit. “We just needed to keep them off the bases.”
Post 57 refused to fold, but this time, had no answers.
“It definitely shows we can play with anybody,” said Canales.
— Contact Dan Hickling at dhickling@journaltribune.com or follow on Twitter @DanHickling.
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