LEOMINSTER — Be aggressive. B-E aggressive.
It’s what North Leominster cheered every time its team went up to bat. It worked for them too as North Leominster routed the Chuck Stone Little League All-Stars 13-2 in four innings at Desantis Field on Friday during District 3 group play in pursuit of the Little League World Series.
“Eight of our 10 kids didn’t even play in the majors (the highest division of little league baseball) and they just do that to support their own teammates,” said North Leominster coach Chad Garner. “They just support their teammates. They bring the energy sometimes.”
North Leominster smashed 10 hits and created eight walks in the win. Every player in North Leominster’s starting lineup reached base and scored, while only one did not get a hit.
“I thought they were a good team but we made them look like a great team with our mistakes,” said Chuck Stone coach Matt Bonenfant. “We didn’t play well in the field. Sometimes that’s going to happen.”
The win moves North Leominster to 2-0 in District 3 play and into first place. Chuck Stone falls to 1-1 with the loss, falling back into third. Each of the six teams in District 3 have three more games left in group play. The top four teams will advance to a double elimination tournament to determine the winner of District 3.
Chuck Stone had three errors and a dropped strike that cost them in the second and fourth innings.
As part of a seven-run second inning for North Leominster, Chuck Stone catcher Hunter Smith dropped a third strike on North Leominster’s Sawyer Corbin, which allowed Corbin to take first and score Patrick Gallagher to put North Leominster up 2-1. Back-to-back walks that loaded the bases and chased Chuck Stone starter Jeremy Vezina from the game after only 1 2/3 innings.
North Leominster then pushed five more runs across—once on an error by first baseman Marky Gauthier on an easy throw only a couple feet away from first—to go up 7-1.
“Our pitching wasn’t there for us,” said Matt Bonenfant after his team went full on four different counts and got behind by two strikes in another four. “We need to throw strikes and we know that. Let them hit the ball and hopefully we can defend. Our pitching wasn’t very good and our defense was real shaky so that’s a bad recipe.”
Stephen Mack, Chuck Stone’s No. 3 starter, was available to pitch in relief due to scheduling that allows No. 1 starter Jenna Bonenfant to pitch in the team’s next game on Monday. Mack lasted just 1 ⅓ innings. He loaded the bases in the fifth inning before Robert LaFosse relieved him.
LaFosse got the first two batters he faced swinging, but a high pop-up single by Tucker Corbin to short left field sent three Chuck Stone fielders after the ball. Defensive positioning caused a pair of throwing errors between short and home, allowing all three runners to score to put North Leominster up 11-2. North Leominster then strung together another three hits before LaFosse got the final out to go up 13-2.
Ben Simons then relieved brother Daniel Simons in the bottom of the fourth, striking out two while only allowing one single. The brotherly duo held Chuck Stone to only three hits.
“Daniel Simons is a 12-year-old and he throws hard and throws strikes,” said Garner. “His brother, Ben, is only 10 and he throws strikes, tries to hit corners. I thought they did a good job tonight.”
Chuck Stone will face Quabbin (1-1) on Monday in Athol. Quabbin defeated Lunenburg 10-2 on Friday after losing to Leominster National 10-0 in its opener.