Font ResizeTOWNSEND -- Mark Canning's two-out double to deep left-center field in the top of the 9th inning June 21 kept the inning alive.
He scored the winning run when a throw went awry on a Paul Walter ground ball as North Middlesex (5-0) picked up the 2-1, extra-nning win against a tough Quabbin team in Senior Babe Ruth action.
The game was played in Barre at Quabbin Regional High School.
NM's Joe Tierney came up clutch in the sixth inning when he smacked a two-out single up the middle to score the fleet-footed Billy Burns (2 hits) from second base to tie the game.
Burns reached second when his single was followed by an Andrew Jena base hit.
Also getting hits for the local club were Mike Powell, John Lamont (2 hits), Kevin Powell, and Paul Walter. Walter's hit was a massive double into the gap that would have cleared a fence had their been one.
Keeping North Middlesex in the game were pitchers Johnny Lamont (4 innings) and Andrew Jena (5 innings).
Lamont struck out seven Quabbin hitters while giving up only a run that scored when North Middlesex narrowly missed executing a 6-4-3 double play.
Jena was masterful as he no-hit Quabbin over the final 5 innings allowing for Tierney's and Canning's contributions to be meaningful.
Catcher Kevin Powell threw a dart to second base in the fourth inning to nail a base stealer, snuffing out a potential rally.
North Middlesex is currently on top of the Montachusett Senior
"We've managed to win our share of close games. The boys are loose and they are just playing baseball as best they can. The league is very strong this year." said manager Jim Canning.
"Win or lose, it is a joy to have so many of the local boys wanting to play. We have had over 20 players ask to be part of this group. Such interest in baseball bodes well.
"We hope that the younger players coming up through the ranks stick with baseball," said Canning.
Ashby's Ken Brown also coaches the team. Ken, who still pitches in an adult league, was a dominate pitcher for the University of Connecticut back in the day.
