RallyNorth.net

Down to a strike, Hillies rally and win

Friday, April, 24 By Hector Longo
Staff writer

HAVERHILL - Twice in the last week, the Haverhill High baseball team stared out at one of the MVC's top returning righties, falling behind early.Both times, the Hillies dusted themselves off and rallied, picking up giant conference wins. Yesterday, it was Ronnie Wallace and Tewksbury in town, holding leads of 2-0 and 3-2. Down to their last strike, Haverhill manufactured victory, with single runs in the seventh and eighth of a dramatic, 4-3, win."We're a group of battlers, who just don't give up," said catcher Ronnie Rosario, who tripled to lead the eighth and scored the game-winner when Chad Kimball drew a four-pitch, bases-loaded walk."We're going to fight to win every inning."With two out in the seventh, Wallace plunked Matt Pickles on the back on an 0-2 count. The Hillie No. 9 man stole second and then scored when Josh Chasse doubled for the tie. A tireless Kimball then went out and mowed the Redmen down in the eighth, registering his seventh strikeout of the complete-game, setting up the eighth-inning Rosario bomb to left.After a pair of intentional walks to set up a force at home, reliever Robbie McVey just couldn't locate the plate and walked the winning pitcher Kimball to score Rosario."To beat the defending champs is just a big boost," said Rosario. "Everybody in this conference is tough, but we know the (small school) league title goes through them."Kimball was sharp, spacing eight hits and four walks over the eight frames, matching the all-conference Redmen right-hander pitch for pitch.Chasse and Rosario combined for four of the five Hillie hits. Zach Cox had the other.