Two teams just fought their way back from the brink, keeping their championship dreams alive at Holman Stadium in the New Hampshire American Legion state baseball tournament. Both Exeter Post 32 and Rochester Post 7 clawed their way to victories on Sunday, July 26, ensuring they live to play another day while sending Keene and Laconia home for good.
Exeter’s Gut-Check Rally Stuns Keene
Talk about refusing to quit. Exeter was down 4-2 heading into the seventh inning against Keene, staring elimination right in the face. But Post 32 decided that wasn’t how their Sunday was gonna end, exploding for four runs and sending a whopping 10 batters to the plate. Collin McGovern, Ben Wissler, and Cam Morrill were clutch, delivering key hits when it mattered most. Brady McGovern and Collin McGovern each drove in two runs, while Wissler and Morrill added an RBI apiece. These guys weren’t just hitting; Brady McGovern, Wissler, Morrill, and Jack Ferrelli all finished with two hits on the day. Exeter head coach Tim Mitropoulos saw his team stay composed when it could have all fallen apart. He said they “started a little slow but stayed composed and got the hits when we needed to.” Pitchers Collin McGovern, Ferrelli, and Morrill all got on the bump, but Nate Edin sealed the deal, earning the win by allowing just one hit and striking out two over the final two innings. Mitropoulos was fired up, stating his “pitchers stuck to the plan and battled all day long.” You love to see that fight!
Rochester Rolls, Drops a Bomb on Laconia
Meanwhile, Rochester Post 7 wasn’t just staying alive, they were making a statement! They absolutely crushed Laconia 15-1 in just five innings, ending the game early via the 10-run rule. This wasn’t a slow build, either. Rochester detonated for seven runs in both the first and third innings. Talk about setting the tone! Rochester head coach Nate Locke pointed to that seven-run first inning as the difference maker. “That inning was huge for us. We haven’t done that all year,” Locke said. “We opened it up, and the first inning set the tone. We were able to relax a little bit the rest of the way.” Garrett Truax went off with two hits and three RBIs, while Wes Drapeau, Brayden Comeau, and Connor Jackson each knocked in two runs. Locke praised his squad, saying, “The kids stepped up. They were disciplined at the plate, and we got hits in key situations.” On the mound, Keegan Daly and Evan Trepanier combined to give up only five hits and one earned run, striking out five. That’s a dominant performance right there.
So, what’s next? The bracket just got even more intense. Exeter and Rochester now face each other on Monday, July 27, at 4 p.m. The winner of that battle doesn’t get to rest; they immediately advance to play either Bedford or Nashua. Coach Locke knows it’s “a long road to the championship,” saying they “need four more wins to get there.” But he’s confident, telling his guys, “we’re capable of doing it.” Mitropoulos shares that excitement, saying his team is “excited to live to play another day and are just going to take it one inning at a time.” This is what tournament baseball is all about, right? Get ready for some more fireworks on Monday!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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