CUMBERLAND – Dante Baldelli’s RBI single in the bottom of the seventh inning wound up being the difference in Cumberland National’s 5-4 victory over Cumberland American in District IV, Pool B action held Friday night at Garvin Field.
Baldelli, the younger brother of Boston Red Sox outfielder Rocco Baldelli, delivered the deciding run with one down, chasing home Josh Brodeur. National improves to 2-0 while American drops to 1-1.
National broke through with four runs in the last of the second inning, the big blast a three-run home run by Nick Provost. American came back with three runs of its own in the third, Dylan Jespen singling home two with the bases loaded and no outs. Alex Lataille doubled home another run, yet American stranded two in scoring position.
American drew even in the top of the fifth, courtesy of a solo home run off the bat of Jespen. American starter Andrew Whalen pitched 5 1/3 innings, giving up four run (all unearned) with six strikeouts. His counterpart, Spencer Ross of the Nationals, struck out four in 4 1/3 innings.
Baldelli followed Ross with 2 2/3 frames of scorless relief, earning the victory.
In other District 4 Major Division action, Lincoln routed Scituate/Foster, 13-1.