Tri-County Baseball · Western Massachusetts · Est. 1929
Spartans
Bank
Merced Strikes Out Eight as DOC Spartans and PeoplesBank Battle to a 2–2 Tie
A seventh-inning rally erases a sixth-inning DOC lead, and fading daylight at South Hadley High School closes the book on a deadlock neither side could break
Some games end with a walk-off. Others end with the sun going down. Monday at South Hadley High School belonged to the latter category, as DOC Spartans and PeoplesBank fought to a 2–2 deadlock that was called due to darkness after seven innings of a pitcher's duel that neither offense could ever fully solve.
For six innings, neither team found the scoreboard. DOC's Jovanni Merced was practically untouchable on the mound, working all seven innings and allowing just three hits and two runs while striking out eight and walking only one — the kind of start that should have been enough to win on most nights. PeoplesBank countered with Lavelly, who was even more dominant through the first stretch, going three and a third scoreless innings despite issuing six walks, before giving way to the bullpen.
DOC finally broke through in the sixth, scoring two runs on an error to take what looked like a hard-earned 2–0 lead. But PeoplesBank wasn't finished. In the top of the seventh, a Rivest single brought the visitors within striking distance, and a double play — an unusual way to plate a run, but baseball can be funny that way — tied the game at two. With the score level and the light fading fast, the game was called, leaving both clubs to share the result.
Benjamin Rodriguez Vega led DOC at the plate, going 2-for-4 and also handling a team-high eight chances in the field without an error. Aidan Sullivan drew three of DOC's nine walks on the night, and Isaiah Ramos stole three bases as the Spartans continued to play an aggressive brand of baseball on the basepaths. For PeoplesBank, Hogan, Rivest, and Gegetskas each had a hit, with Rivest and Rivera driving in the club's two runs in back-to-back lineup spots. DOC was flawless defensively, committing zero errors. The Spartans travel to Teddy Bear Pools on Wednesday looking to turn this hard-fought tie into momentum.
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