Just when it looked like the season might be over, the Andover Legion squad once again proved it was up to the challenge.
Shaking off the wounds of a tough tourney opener, Post 8 combined a stellar pitching performance with timely hitting on the way to a 7-2 victory over Newton in the second game of the District 8 playoffs Monday night.
"The kids were so disappointed with their play on Sunday," said Andover coach Joe Iarrobino. "They knew they didn't play well. They came back and played so much better. We got great pitching, and only had one error and played really well in the field."
Andover jumped out to an early lead. Brian Charlebois led off the second inning with a single, and four batters later scored when Christian Lightner bunted for a base hit.
John Hennessy then led off the third with a single, followed by a Dan Gusovsky single and an RBI single for Jake Ponti. Adam Risman then walked to force Gusovsky home, and Ponti scored on a wild pitch.
Mike McQuillan reached base in the fourth on an error, then scored on a wild pitch, and Gusovsky put the game away in the sixth with a triple that scored Hennessy and Jimmy Walsh. Gusovsky, Hennessy and Lightner each finished with two hits, leading Andover's 10-hit attack.
Andover called sent ace Tom Palleschi to the mound, and the Phillips standout paid off with six stellar innings.
"Tom went out and struck out the first two batters of the game," said Iarrobino."Tom wanted the ball tonight. He has been our most consistent pitcher all year. He pitched very, very well, and only saw a little trouble late in the game. We were lucky to get that much out of him. He even picked off two runners."
Post 8 was scheduled to face Lowell on Tuesday night after deadline.
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Andover Legion jumped out to a one-run lead in the first inning, but defensive struggles saw Post 8 allow eight runs in the second inning, and Andover fell to Lowell 15-2 in the first game of the District 8 playoffs Sunday night.
"We totally fell apart," said Andover coach Joe Iarrobino. "We committed five errors in the second inning alone. I don't know how to explain it. We just collapsed. We committed seven errors for the game."
Andover did manage some offense. Mike McQuillan had a pair of hits, including a double, and scored a run, while Brian Charlebois and John Hennessy each had an RBI single.
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Jake Ponti was 4 for 4 with five RBIs as Andover punched its ticket to the District 8 tournament with an 18-1 drubbing of Salem (Mass.) last Thursday.
Red hot catcher Dan Gusovsky added a 3-for-4 night with a triple and Jimmy Walsh added three hits for the winners.
Tom Palleschi was outstanding for Post 8, allowing just a single hit and no earned runs with no walks in five innings. Mike Davidson went the final two innings to clinch the win.
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Surging leadoff man Christian Lightner hit for the cycle, going 4 for 4 to lead Andover Post 8 to an 8-6 victory over Lynn Post 6 last Wednesday.
Lightner started with a homer over the left field wall, and later added the triple, double and single.He also went 2 for 4 in the early game, a 5-3 loss Lynn Gautreau.
