Overachievers throughout the season, Andover Legion wasn't about to surrender until the final out.
"We just kept battling and coming back," said Andover Legion coach Joe Iarrobino. "We came through with a few big hits and had some chances, but we couldn't take advantage at the end."
Post 8 rallied to tie the game and send the go-ahead run to the plate in the ninth. But Andover could not find the final hit and fell to Lowell 8-6 in the third game of the District 8 playoffs last Tuesday at Alumni Field.
Lowell also dealt the first loss of the tourney to Post 8, which was eliminated from the double-elimination playoffs.
"A lot of people counted us out," said Iarrobino, whose team advanced to the tourney for the 19th time in his 22 years. "But our kids came out and played with confidence. They played a great game, and we were in it until the end. I am proud of them."
Lowell jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the third inning. But Andover struck back two innings later when Dan Gusovsky drove home two runs with a double, then scored on a single by Jake Ponti to make it 4-3.
Post 8 tied the game in the sixth when Sean McQuillan singled, and scored on a single by brother Mike McQuillan. Andover then loaded the bases, but John Hennessy's screaming liner was caught by the pitcher and turned into a double play.
"Two inches either way and it's a hit and we have the lead," Iarrobino said. "But baseball is a game of inches, and we proved that again tonight."
Lowell then scored one in the sixth and three in the seventh to make the score 8-4. Andover answered back with two runs, and a single by Gusovsky and Sean McQuillan reaching on a hit by pitch sent up the go-ahead run. But that is as close as Andover would get.
Christian Lightner, Gusovsky and Sean McQuillan each had two hits for Post 8, and Colin Norris kept them in the game with 52/3 innings of strong relief, allowing just two earned runs.
"Colin pitched very well for us," Iarrobino said. "We have a very young team, and a lot of kids coming back. In our starting lineup, the only player we are losing is Gusovsky, who we will miss. But we are very excited."
