American Legion - Wareham Post #220 Baseball Program

WEEK 1

Hanover 6, Post #220 (0-1) 2 - The Wareham American Legion Post #220 Baseball Program’s 2009 summer season opened on the road on Sunday, June 7, 2009, with a 6-2 loss vs. Hanover at Hanover High School. Ben Church took the loss on the mound allowing six runs, while walking seven batters over five innings pitched. Chad Snow went 2-for-3 with an RBI at the plate. Church went 2-for-2, while scoring a run. The other run was produced by a sacrifice fly from Cody Berger that plated Ryan Delgado.

Post #220 (1-1) 5, Pembroke 3 - The home opener took place on June 8, 2009 at Spillane Field on the campus of Wareham High School in Wareham vs. Pembroke. Post #220 jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the first inning and never looked back. Nick Filloramo paced himself to pitch six-plus strong innings, recording 8K’s, while walking only two. Ryan Delgado went 2-for-3 with a solo HR and Chad Snow went 2-for-3 providing a 2-run HR. Anthony Angelo made his first start at third base and also went 2-for-3 on the night.

Post #220 (2-1) 7, Hawkeye 0 - Tommy Cole struck out 12 Hawkeye batters in seven shutout innings. He allowed four hits and didn't walk a batter throughout the night. First baseman Hunter Horton went 2-for-3 with an RBI, while Evan Bissonnette went 1-for-2 w/ 2 RBI’s. Also, making his first start and third base, Hunter Black went 1-for-2 and drove in a pair.

Post #220 (3-1) 10, Duxbury 0 - Post #220 baseball team exploded for six runs in the top of the fifth inning and defeated host Duxbury, 10-0, in American Legion action Friday night. Ben Church got the victory on the mound throwing a one-hitter and helped himself with a 3-for-3 and four-RBI night for Wareham. Ryan Delgado went 2-for-3 with a solo home run and three RBIs, while Michael Sullivan and Derek Flynn had a hit in their only at-bat.

RI College Select 6, Post #220 (non-league 0-1) 5 - Post #220 lost a tough one in RI at Cumberland HS vs. the RI College Select 6-5. Post #220 jumped out early in the first inning with back to back RBI's from Ben Church and Chad Snow, scoring Pat Murphy and Ryan Delgado. RI College Select scored three runs in the third inning and two runs in the fifth only to see Post #220 tie the game in the top of the sixth. Post #220 just couldn't hang on and allowed a run to come across in the bottom of the seventh. Derek Flynn pitched well, allowing three runs in four innings of work and Cody Berger struck out the Red Sox 49th round draft pick, Chris Constantino in the sixth inning.  

Post #220 (non-league 1-1) 5, Upper Deck Post #86 0 - Hunter Horton and Billy Peterson each collected a hit and scored a run, leading Post #220 to a shutout win. Peterson also pitched a total of five stellar innings, only allowing one hit and recording three K's along the way. Ryan Delgado came in relief to strikeout the side in the seventh.  

WEEK 2

Whitman 2, Post #220 (3-2) 1 - Whitman's Jake Ruoff pitched a complete game two-hitter as Whitman Post 22 beat Wareham in a pitcher's duel. Post #220's Pat Murphy matched Ruoff until the sixth inning when Whitman's John Bilunas ripped a two-run triple down the right field line to break a scoreless tie. Ryan Delgado went 1-for-2 and scored in the bottom half of the sixth. Cody Berger added the only other hit, with an infield single in the second inning. 

Post #220 (4-2) 9, Rockland 6 - Ryan Delgado went 2-for-4, scored a pair of runs and knocked in one as Post #220 defeated host Rockland, 9-6, on Monday night in American Legion Baseball. Tommy Cole pitched 6 1/3 innings giving up six earned runs on eight hits while striking out five Rockland batters and walking four. Harry Irving had a hit and 2 RBI's for Post #220, while Chris Nye added a hit and scored a run. Rockland had the bases loaded in the bottom of the seventh, but Cody Berger got the last two batters on a strikeout and a grounder to end the game.

Kingston 1, Post #220 (4-3) 0 - Kingston's Craig Olson singled on a full count, driving in the only run of the game for a 1-0 victory over Post #220 at Spillane Field. Olson's RBI hit, which came in the bottom of the seventh-it was Kingston's home game even though the game was held in Wareham-was only the second hit of the night off Post #220 starter Ben Church, who struck out 13 Kingston batters including eight in a row at one point. Church went all 6 1/3 innings but hit a batter in the bottom of the seventh. An errant pick off attempt allowed the runner to advance to third after an intererence call overturned a putout at third base, Post #220 loaded the bases hoping for an inning ending double play for Kingston on two intentional walks, setting the stage for Olson's game winning hit. Post #220 stranded five runners and Pat Murphy had the only hit off Kingston's starter Taylor Leclair who pitched the complete game shutout. 

WEEK 3

Post #220 (5-3) 9, Brockton 6 - Messy conditions couldn't keep Post #220 from a muddy victory at Spillane Field in Wareham. Ben Church pitched a complete game; twelve strikeout performance and helped his cause with an RBI single in the third inning. Ryan Shove went 1-for-2 on the night, but found himself on base three times, scoring three runs. Wareham teammate Chris Nye walked twice and added a two RBI base hit in the bottom of the fourth.  

Sandwich 9, Post #220 (5-4) 1 - Even though Wareham Post #220 took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning, it lost to Sandwich Post 188. Ben Church's sacrifice fly that scored Ryan Delgado gave Wareham the early edge, but Tommy Cole, who went four innings, struggled by giving up six earned runs. Cody Berger relieved him in the fifth and allowed two runs in the inning. Also, Derek Flynn came in and pitched a scoreless inning. Pat Murphy was strong at the plate, going 2-for-3 for Post #220.

Post #220 (6-4) 5, Hingham 4 (Game #1) - Wareham Post #220 held off a late charge by Hingham to come away with a 5-4 win in Hull on Friday. Nick Filloramo earned the win, going all seven innings for Wareham he struck out nine and walked one, giving up two of Hingham's runs in the final frame. Chris Nye went 2-for-3 with an RBI to lead the balanced Post 220 attack. Every batter in Wareham's starting lineup had a hit, and it started early, with Ryan Delgado leading off the game with a triple. He scored on a Ben Church sacrifice, one of two for Wareham. Post #220 hosts a day night doubleheader today. Wareham plays Hingham again at 11am, then Middleboro at 7pm.

Post #220 (7-4) 5, Hingham 4 (Game #2) - In the day-night doubleheader action, Tommy Cole entered the fourth inning of the opener and threw four innings of shutout baseball, winning the game with a walkoff home run in the bottom of seventh inning. Post #220's Cody Berger went 2-for-2 on the day with one run scored and Chris Nye had a 2-for-3 day and drove in a pair.

Middleboro 15, Post #220 (7-5) 13 - Post #220 came back from a 10-0 deficit, cutting the lead to one run with a nine-run fourth inning but the Middleboro bats proved to be too much in the end. Middleboro's Tyler Horan hit a towering grand slam that plunked the right field scoreboard in a six-run third inning. Ben Church led the Post #220 offense going 3-for-4 and scoring three runs on the night. Chad Snow went 2-for-5 driving in three runners and Hunter Black had a nice night at the plate going 2-for-4 with a triple and drove in a pair.

WEEK 4

Post #220 (8-5) 2, Bridgewater 1 - Post #220 bounced back from an exhausting Saturday to make it two out of three for the weekend, thanks to Ben Church's one-hit performance on Sunday in Bridgewater. Church made a two-run second inning stand up. Nick Filloramo had an RBI double in the inning, and Cody Berger knocked home Filloramo on a fielder's choice. Pat Murphy went 2-for-3, and Chris Nye had a solid weekend offensively for Post #220. Bridgewater scored an unearned run in the fifth inning, the only blemish for Church, who pitched a complete game, allowing one hit while striking out 11 and walking only one.

Post #220 (9-5) 3, Barnstable 0 - Pitcher Cody Berger threw a four-hit shutout in his first start of the season, as Post #220 defeated Barnstable, 3-0, in American Legion Baseball action. Berger struck out eight Barnstable batters and walked only one. Post #220 got its offense from Evan Bissonette, who hit a two-run single in the second inning. Nick Filloramo scored Ben Church on a fielder's choice for the other run. Also, Anthony Angelo added a base hit on the night.

Post #220 (10-5) 4, Rockland 1 - Nick Filloramo threw a complete game, allowing three hits while fanning five Rockland batters and walking two. Chad Snow had a double and an RBI, and Patrick Murphy was 2-for-4 with an RBI. Cody Berger, Evan Bissonnette, Ben Church, and Ryan Delgado would each add a hit on the night. 

Post #220 (11-5) 7, Brockton 0 - Post #220 defeated host Brockton, 7-0, on Friday night in American Legion Baseball action. Tommy Cole threw a four-hit shutout, while striking out five Brockton batters and walking just two. Post#220 put up all seven runs in the top of the first inning as the first five men reached base on three hits and two walks and all five scored. Patrick Murphy started it off with a single, Ryan Delgado added a double, Ben Church drew a walk and clean-up hitter Chad Snow cleared the bases with a double. Also, during the first frame, Nick Filloramo would add a two RBI double and Ryan Shove would bring him around on a base hit. Nick Filloramo finished with a 2-for-3 day with two doubles, two runs batted in and a run scored. Patrick Murphy was 2-for-4 with a run scored.

WEEK 5

Abington 6, Post #220 (12-7) 5 – Post #220 committed three errors in the second and third inning allowing Abington to score three unearned runs in a 6-5 loss at Spillane Field. Tommy Cole settled down and allowed only two hits in the final four innings keeping Wareham in the game. Trailing 6-4 in the bottom of the seventh, Post #220 scored a run, but stranded the winning runs at second and third base in their last at bat (11 total LOB). Ryan Delgado went 1-for-3 with a run scored and Hunter Horton also finished with a 1-for-3 night at the plate.  

Plymouth 4, Post #220 (12-8) 3 – In 8 innings, Plymouth Post #40 defeated Wareham Post #220 4-3 in American Legion Baseball action. Post #40 rallied to erase a 3-0 deficit going into the bottom of the seventh at Plymouth North High School. Plymouth scored all three runs in the home half of the seventh with two outs on four hits and an error to tie the game. In the top of the eight, Post #220 started off the inning with back to back singles from Ryan Shove and Patrick Murphy, but failed to move them over, as the inning ended on a 6-4-3 double play. Post #220 collected twelve hits off Plymouth’s Joe Flynn, forcing him to throw over 125 pitches, but lost with two outs in the bottom of the eight on a wild pitch. Patrick Murphy collected four hits on the day and Nick Filloramo went 2-for-4 with two RBI’s. Chad Snow added two hits and an RBI. Filloramo pitched 6 2/3 allowing only two earned runs and collecting six strikeouts along the way.

FIRST-ROUND PLAYOFF SERIES

Game 1 - FROM THE STANDARD-TIMES - Dan Belanger hit a two-run, walk-off home run with two outs in the bottom of the eighth inning to lift third-seeded Bridgewater to a 3-2, extra-inning victory over visiting Wareham Post 220 on Tuesday night. The loss made tonight's Game 2 at Spillane Field a must-win for sixth-seeded Wareham. First pitch for the middle game of the best-of-three American Legion playoff series is at 7 p.m. Bridgewater's Greg Leger went the distance for the victory, allowing six hits while striking out seven Wareham batters and walking three. Ben Church went 7 2/3 innings for Post 220, allowing six hits while fanning six and walking two before the decisive hit made him a hard-luck loser. "Without a doubt. He pitched well," said Wareham manager Keith Delgado, whose team has now lost three out of its last four, all by one run. The teams traded unearned runs in the first inning, and Church broke the tie in the top of the eighth with a bases-loaded single. The frame could have produced more for Wareham. "To begin with, we had runners at first and second with nobody out, and we got a runner picked off second base. That was tough," said Delgado. "You get rid of that, it's unbelievable how that game ended." Right-hander Tommy Cole gets the start tonight for Post 220.

Game 1 - FROM THE BROCKTON ENTERPRISE - Bridgewater Post 203 needed some magic in the bottom of the eighth inning and Dan Belanger delivered. The Bridgewater batsman belted a two-run, walk-off homer to give his squad a 3-2 victory over Wareham and a 1-0 advantage in their first-round American Legion playoff series. Greg Leger pitched a complete game with eight strikeouts to lead Bridgewater. Game two of the best-of-three series is scheduled for 7pm tonight at Spillane Field in Wareham.

Game 2 - FROM THE BROCKTON ENTERPRISE - Games are usually a lot closer and more competitive in the postseason, something Bridgewater Post 222 can attest to. Bridgewater defeated Wareham Post 220 on Wednesday night, 9-6, at Spillane Field after winning the night before on a walkoff home run. Bridgewater swept the best-of-three series in a preliminary round matchup of the Zone 10 playoffs. Bridgewater trailed, 1-0, after the first inning when Wareham loaded the bases with a walk and two consecutive singles. Ben Church touched home for the first run of the night when Nick Filloramo drove a sacrifice fly to deep center field. Wareham would hold that 1-0 lead until the fourth inning, in large part, because of its defense. Wareham turned a double play in each of the first three innings. “Their defense was great early on,” said Bridgewater coach Tim Fitzgibbons. “They turned a double play just about every time we got a man on base.” Bridgewater would finally avoid a rally-killing double play in the fourth inning when it busted out for seven important runs. Drew Larson got the inning started with a leadoff single, and he scored Bridgewater’s first run three batters later when Dan Belanger slapped an RBI single to center field. Ryan Gavin and Ryan Tufts each drove in a run later in the inning to load the bases. Five straight Bridgewater batters would reach base without ever making solid contact. “That’s just baseball,” said Wareham coach Keith Delgado. “They had a few well-placed hits, and there’s nothing we can do about that.” After the streak of five straight base runners, Greg Leger crushed a bases-loaded triple to the fence in left-center field to clear the bases and give Bridgewater a 7-1 lead. “That was the play of the game for us,” said Fitzgibbons. “We have to take advantage of our opportunities against a team like that, and thank god we did.” The seven runs proved to be enough for Bridgewater starter Tim Belanger, but not by much. Belanger ran into trouble of his own in the fifth inning. After a walk, Belanger allowed a double and a triple that brought Wareham to within two runs. Belanger retired the next batter on a groundout, but the following batter ripped an RBI triple to cut the deficit to one. Belanger allowed three extra-base hits in the inning, and Bridgewater had pitchers warming in the bullpen. But with one out and the tying runner on third, Fitzgibbons elected to stay with his starter. “He’s a veteran pitcher for us,” Fitzgibbons said. “I know he could still get outs, and we weren’t going to pull him until after he had given up the lead.” The gamble by Fitzgibbons paid off as Belanger struck out the leadoff batter for the second out of the inning, and he induced a weak groundout to escape the jam with a 7-6 lead. Belanger would later receive two huge insurance runs in the top of the seventh inning. Dan Belanger reached first base on an error, and Ryan Gavin singled to left field to put two runners on with nobody out. After a strikeout, eighth-grader Ryan Tufts crushed a triple out by the 412 foot sign that scored two and gave Bridgewater some much needed breathing room. “That was so key for us,” Fitzgibbons said. “The last inning would have been really interesting if it was still a one-run game.” Wareham, as it did all game long, wouldn’t surrender in the last inning. Wareham was able to send the tying run to the plate, but Belanger ended the game by striking out his seventh batter. The victory advances Bridgewater into the second round of the Zone 10 playoffs. Bridgewater will resume play on Sunday, but its opponent has yet to be determined.

The entire Post #220 Baseball Program would like to thank all of the Friends and Families who attended the 4th annual Pasta Feast. We want to extend a very special thank-you to our guest speaker, Mr. Paul Galop, Commissioner of the prestigious Cape Cod Baseball League.