JULY 5, 2009

Kingston Legion  8 , Rockland Post 147   5

      Rockland Legion Baseball Post 147 was host to the Kingston Legion ball team this past Sunday night.
Rockland still struggling for a win, sent Josh Sullivan to the mound in hopes for a win, to break the bad cycle they are in. Sullivan struggled with close to seventy pitches over the first three innings, and has not been sharp as of late. In the fourth inning Rocklands' defense was poor to say the least, which added to the pitch count for Sullivan. Four errors in the top of the fourth inning led to seven runs for Kingston, which once again forced Post 147 to play catch-up baseball. Rockland actually had a one to nothing lead in the third inning, but the UN-LEGION like play allowed Kingston that one big inning. The over worked Post 147 team, due to the shrinking roster, was forced to play some ballplayers in positions that they have not played in years. To their credit, despite the position changes, Rockland battled back, and in the bottom of the seventh inning, loaded the bases with three straight singles. John Mulready, Cory Comeau, and Nick Ayala all reached base and were driven home by a very loud single to deep left center by Matt Losciuto.
Losciuto was thrown out at second, trying to stretch the single to a double, and the Rockland rally ended shortly after that, along with the game. Post 147 out hit their opponent again, but still came up short in the end, because the hits were not always timely. The errors continue to haunt this teams good hitting and pitching efforts. Nick Ayala and Matt Losciuto both went 2 for 4 at the plate for Rockland, and Matt Losciuto did a great job behind the plate for the injured Scott Stohlberg. Reported by Thom Roache

 THOMAS F. ROACHE

 

 

JULY 6, 2009

SANDWICH POST 188 SQUEAKS BY ROCKLAND POST 147, 

The trip across the Sagamore Bridge to Sandwich Legion was full of excitement for Rockland Post 147, who has beaten Post 188 the last two meetings. The game started out in favor of Rockland once again, with Cory Comeau and Nick Ayala both hitting singles and scoring on a solid single from Steve Gardner. The second inning was just as explosive with a two run home run from Josh Sullivan and a two run home run from Jeff Gardner. The only problem from the second inning on was the lack of any more runs to put the game away. The Sandwich Post 188 chipped away at Rockland starter Cory Comeau, and in the bottom of the second inning scored four runs to bring Post 188 within two runs of Rockland. Comeau settled down for the next three innings, despite a couple of errors, by the Rockland infield. In the bottom of the sixth inning, two singles and two walks ( one intentional), plus a couple of wild pitches, allowed Post 188 to grab the lead, seven to six. The bottom of the sixth also was complicated by one very questionable call, as well as the top of the seventh, both of which impacted the outcome of this one. The loss stood, regardless of the good effort by Rockland against the number one team in the District. Reported by Thom Roache

 THOMAS F. ROACHE

 

 

 

ALLSTAR SEASON HAS BEGUN FOR SENIOR LEAGUE DISTRICT 8;


JULY 5, 2009

Rockland Senior League All-Stars squared off against Abington Senior League All-Stars, at a neutral site in Scituate, for the start of the All-stars tournament. Rockland started early, loading the bases in the first inning off Abington starter Mike Cashman, but could only score one run, as Cashman got out of the inning.
Rockland scored again in the top of the third inning, when Kevin Sheehan was hit by a pitch, Steve Gardner singled, John Mulready walked, and Chris Scheim doubled, scoring Sheehan and Gardner. Joe Lennon, the Rockland starter was cruising along until the bottom of the fourth inning, when Abington pounded out three hits and three runs to tie the game. Abington took the lead in the bottom of the fifth with the help of a Rockland error, but Rockland tied the game in the top of the sixth, when Joe Dubeau singled, Sean Alexander was hit by a pitch, and Joe Lennon drove a solid single to left to score both Dubeau and Alexander. Rockland got the eventual game winning run in the top of the seventh inning, when Chris Scheim singled and Abington pitching loaded the bases with walks and walked in the winning run. Abington threatened again in the bottom of the seventh, but Lennon and reliever Steve Gardner shut down the threat, and Rockland escaped with the first round victory. Rockland will have to play better if they hope to survive against Canton All-Stars, who took care of Scituate, handily

 THOMAS F. ROACHE

 

 

JULY 3. 2009

Hingham Post 120 visited Rockland Veterans Memorial Stadium, just before the Fourth of July, but with less fireworks than at Cronin Field in Hingham. The beating Rockland Post 147 took from Post 120 wasn't to be repeated this time. Mike Mallar, the Rockland starter, in only his second start, in his first year as a Legion pitcher,managed to keep Hingham off balance most of the night, surrendering only five runs on eight hits.This was better than an earlier appearance by Mallar against Norwell this season. The problem once again for Mallar and Rockland was run support. As in the Norwell game where Post 147 only scored one run, again in this Hingham game they could only muster two runs. The baffling part is that Rockland had eleven hits, to Hinghams' eight hits. Rockland  scored in the bottom of the seventh inning when Steve Machaby singled followed by Cory Comeau's single, which just scooted past the Hingham first baseman. A coaching blunder had Machaby thrown out at third, trying to stretch the base runner to third. Comeau moved to second on a pass ball and later scored on a Josh Sullivan triple .Sullivan scored on a Nick Ayala single, and that would do it for Rockland.Post 147 fought to the end, but was another victim of the playoff bound Hingham squad.On a good note Steve Machaby went 2 for 3, Josh Sullivan went 3 for 4, Cory Comeau went 2 for 4, and A.J. Roache came back from a hamstring tear to pitch the seventh inning for Rockland. Reported by Thom Roache

 THOMAS F. ROACHE

 

 

 

JULY 2, 2009

THE TRIP SOUTH TO WAREHAM PROVED TO BE ANOTHER TOUGH ONE FOR THE ROCKLAND RAIDERS. THE WAREHAM POST 220 IS A PLAYOFF CONTENDER AND ALWAYS A STRONG OPPONENT. ROCKLAND POST 147 SCORED FIRST WHEN CORY COMEAU DREW A WALK AND SCORED ON A TRIPLE BY MATT LOSCIUTO, BUT THAT WOULD BE IT FOR ROCKLAND. WAREHAM KEPT PICKING AWAY AND EVENTUALLY SCORED FOUR RUNS FOR THE LEAD THAT STUCK. CORY COMEAU, THE ROCKLAND STARTER, PITCHED WELL, BUT COULD GET NO RUN SUPPORT, AND WAS THE TOUGH LUCK LOSER. THE ROCKLAND TEAM IS STILL WITHOUT SOME KEY PLAYERS, AND THAT HAS PUT A STRAIN ON THE REMAINING PLAYERS AND COACHING STAFF THIS YEAR.

 THOMAS F. ROACHE

 June 29,  2009

Rockland Legion Baseball has fought through tough times this year, but when Hawkeye Legion came to Rockland Veterans Memorial Stadium this Monday, Post 147 suffered a good old fashioned beating. The Hawkeye batters unleashed a display of rocket hits that rivaled the Boston Fourth of July celebration. No matter what Rockland pitchers threw at them, Hawkeye players deposited it somewhere. Sixteen hits and fifteen runs later the attack stopped and Rockland ended up again on the losing end. Post 147 did manage to get five runs, but that would be all, and less than acceptable season continued. Josh Sullivan went 2 for 3 for Rockland, but most of the other hitters kept the Hawkeye shortstop busy all night,  and he made the plays. Hawkeye Legion did get a little sloppy in the field, which accounted for some Rockland runs, but once again Rockland could neither string a rally together or stop the opponents rally.  HAWKEYE LEGION == 15  vs. ROCKLAND POST 147 == 5

 THOMAS F. ROACHE

 June 28, 2009

DENNIS POST 488 == 8 vs. ROCKLAND POST 147 == 7

Rockland Legion Baseball Team Post 147, took the hour and fifteen minute ride to Dennis Legion Post 488 at Cape Cod Tech on a dreary Sunday evening. Nine ballplayers, with no substitutes available was the situation for Rockland this day. Post 147 hopped on the Dennis starter quickly in the top of the first inning, posting four runs on five hits, with one Dennis error. Josh Sullivan, Matt Losciuto, and Steve Gardner all hit singles, while John Mulready and Derek Smith hit doubles, to cap off the attack. Rockland increased their lead in the top of the fourth inning, when Jeff Gardner reached base by working a walk and Josh Sullivan singled again. Sullivan would score on a fielders choice off the bat of Steve Gardner, to put the score at six to three in favor of Rockland. Post 488 chipped away all evening and eventually got to within one run at six to five. Derek Smith, the Rockland starter, did an excellent job as a starter, but has not been in the rotation consistently this year, so after five and one-third innings the pitch count demanded that Rockland make the change. Joe Lennon took over for Smith and could not hold the lead. Rockland scored one more time in the bottom of the sixth inning, when Jeff Gardner was hit by a pitch, moved to second on a hit and run play, stole third on his own, and scored on a sacrifice fly by Matt Losciuto, to tie the game at seven. In the bottom of the seventh inning, Dennis Legion Post 488, pushed across the winning run with a close play at the plate. An error in the bottom of the seventh had taken its toll once again, just as it had done in the Brockton game, on Friday night. Rockland was the tough luck loser as their losing streak continues. Josh Sullivan for Rockland continues to swing a hot bat, going 2 for 4, and Derek Smith has also come alive at the plate with two doubles in this game, for a 2 for 4 day.

 THOMAS F. ROACHE

 THOMAS F. ROACHE