By Marc Canner
Matt Kazangian’s ninth inning walk-off line drive single powered the Bedford “C” Baby Bucs to an electrifying 8-7 comeback win over Lexington at Page Field Sunday evening.
The Bucs, trailing 7-3 heading into the bottom of the sixth inning of their season-ending Bay State League Tournament of Champions game, improbably rallied for four runs to send the game into extra innings.
Not wanting to end the splendid summer season on a down note, strike throwing right-hander Jake Morrison came out of the bullpen to hold off the Lexington bats, pitching four strong innings of shutout relief to get the win. Morrison had two 1-2-3 innings, and in the seventh, worked his way out of a bases loaded jam to keep the Bucs alive. The Bucs also had their chances in extra innings, after Charlie Naylor scorched a triple to right-center field in the eighth inning.
The 10 year-olders, down to their last at bat in the bottom of the sixth, staged an epic rally. Left-handed hitting slugger Nick Solitro clubbed a bases loaded two run double off the center field fence to cut the lead in half. Then, down to their final out, Jacob Canner beat out an infield hit, scoring the runners on second and third and sending the game into extra frames.
Bucs manager Mark Solitro proudly noted that “this was a great lesson about perseverance and teamwork. The boys maintained great attitudes and focus the entire game. They simply refused to give up.”
In the bottom of the ninth, Canner, who had a diving left field catch in the seventh, led off with a walk, then stole second. Buc’s speedy right-fielder Harry Bertos beat out an infield hit to the shortstop, moving Canner over to third and setting the table for the scrappy Kazangian, whose clutch hit sent the resilient Bucs off to Bedford Farms to celebrate.
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