BRISTOL, Conn. — With Yarmouth Little League’s improbable quest for a trip to Williamsport, Pa., all but over, Manager Jay Tobias was quick to consider the odds against what his team has accomplished.
He hopes his players will respond the same way when the initial disappointment subsides.
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Early mistakes didn’t deter Yarmouth from launching a late comeback Tuesday but the heroics of shortstop Daniel Walsh enabled Andover (Mass.) National to post a 5-3 win in the New England Regional at Leon J. Breen Field.
Yarmouth (1-3), which has finished the round-robin portion of the tournament, needs lots of help if it is to advance to the single-elimination playoffs. Four of the six New England teams qualify, and winless Barre (Vt.) Community Little League would have to beat Rhode Island (1-2) and score at least five runs for Yarmouth to advance.
Tobias is certain the team’s experience will soon overshadow the results.
“It’s 12-year-old baseball and I think sometimes because of the elevated play here you forget,” Tobias said.
“They’ve absolutely overachieved our expectations. We have 17 12-year-olds in our league. We took 12 of our 17 through the districts, through the states and here. It was brilliant.
“One thing that’s really sunk in with our boys was that out of 2,000 teams, there are 12 here between the Mid-Atlantic and New England (tournaments).
“I can’t express how proud we are of getting all the way to this position. We were two runs away from getting to the elimination round. We’d love to flip the score around but the ride’s been fantastic.”
Yarmouth’s defensive mistakes were critical in Massachusetts’ three-run third inning. Singles by Walsh and Andrew Selima set the table when the shortstop hesitated on a grounder and threw late trying for the force at third.
A single by Sam Conte coupled with an obstruction call on the bases opened the gates for two runs. The third run came home when the catcher couldn’t hold on to a strong throw from center fielder C.J. Cawley on a base hit.
“Against a very good team like Andover, you can’t do that,” Tobias said.
“I could see a little sulking the third and fourth innings, and thankfully they composed themselves and had a great fifth inning.
“You saw the energy come back. We bunched our hits and at least gave ourselves a chance to come back in the sixth.”
Andover (2-1) held a 5-0 lead with Michael Reilly pitching four innings of two-hit ball before the Maine champion surged back into contention.
After Walsh ranged into the hole to throw out Cawley to start the inning, Conor O’Donnell singled and John Thoma walked. With two outs, Chris Romano (6 for 12 in tournament) rapped an RBI single. Thoma scored on a wild pitch and Romano came around on a single by Grant Tobias to cut the Nationals’ lead to two.
Runners were on second and third when Luke Klenda sent a line drive into the hole that Walsh picked off to preserve the lead.
“I think he’s the best Little League shortstop I’ve ever seen, and I’ve seen a lot of them,” Andover Manager Paul Finn said.
“I think he’s got as soft hands as you’re going to see an infielder have. He always seems to be in the right position and always seems to make the big play. We’re fortunate to have him.”
Yarmouth brought the tying run to the plate in the sixth. Selima retired the first two hitters before left-hander Conte was called in to face consecutive left-handed hitters. He walked O’Donnell but got Chris Amoroso on a game-ending liner to right to notch the save.
“We had loud outs all day,” Jay Tobias said. “Warning track, line drives and (Klenda) hits hit one maybe two inches foul down the line (leading off the second inning). I was really happy to see them swinging the bats better.”
Klenda (1-2) suffered the loss, allowing seven hits and four earned runs in five innings.
Massachusetts stranded 12 runners to Yarmouth’s five. Yarmouth had committed just one error in the three previous games before making four in Andover’s two run-scoring innings.
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