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Andover denied in wild seventh inning finish

Monday, April, 30 By Hector Longo

LOWELL — In one aspect, Andover High really didn't deserve to lay claim to sole possession of the Merrimack Valley Conference.

The Warriors uncharacteristically didn't hit the ball hard against a stable of Lowell throwers and wasted key opportunities, while allowing the Raiders to pound 13 hits.

“I think we had our moments,” said Warrior coach Dan Grams. “Everybody hears how good Lowell is. It might have taken them a bit to realize we could play with them. But the kids didn’t give up, that’s a big positive.”

Still you just hate to see their one lifeline ripped away.

Andover fought to the bitter end, having the tying run called out at the plate in the wildest of finishes to an 11-10 defeat at the hands of the Red Raiders here at Alumni Stadium.

Up 4-0, then down 10-4, Andover showed grit, chipping away with 3 in the fifth on Adam Risman's tape-measure 3-run shot to left and two more in the sixth on five walks and no hits, setting up the seventh.

Brian Ganci took a breaking ball on the back side to lead the Andover seventh. But Nick Godfroy, the sixth Lowell pitcher of the day, struck out the next two hitters.

Nathaniel Spellacy stepped to the plate and skied a popup into the wind beyond the first base bag.
Matt Tulley appeared to be under it, but he and R.J. Noel collided, right on the foul line, sending the ball dribbling off Tulley and into foul ground.

In the wild skirmish, the ball, that looked foul, was ruled fair. Tulley scooped it up and fired, trying to get Ganci but the throw sailed high into left center.

Ganci scored, and Spellacy chugged around third, diving in head first well ahead of the relay throw.
But he was somehow called out, ending the game and knotting up the MVC large.

“(Coaching third base) I didn’t have a good look at it, and unfortunately I might have had the worst angle of everybody there,” said Grams. “I talked to Spellacy, and he told me he got in before the tag. I have to trust my player on that one.

“Unfortunately, the umpire saw it another way.”

Lowell, Chelmsford and Andover have all split the first three games between the clubs and sit tied atop the MVC large with one loss.

On the bright side for Andover, the senior Risman continued to scald the baseball, driving in five for the second straight game.

His three-run homer off Noel came just seconds after having his knees buckled on a breaking ball for strike two.
Out of the bullpen, freshman Alex Brickman and Colin Flynn also looked sharp, allowing only one run over the final three innings to allow their team a chance to rally.

"Our kids are so young and inexperienced on the mound, they are still learning," said Grams. "The best way for them to learn is to get out there and play against great teams like Lowell. I'm looking forward to playing them again in the Spinners Cup."