Quincy strikes out
 

Aug. 20, 2008: Palo Alto's Jordan Piha crosses the plate as Quincy catcher Dan Higgins looks dejected as another run adds up in the Babe Ruth 14-year-old World Series at Adams Field. Lisa Bul photo/The Patriot Ledger
 

By MIKE LOFTUS
The Patriot Ledger

QUINCY --  They would loved to have stayed around and had more of a say in the Babe Ruth World Series, but the host team from Quincy still made a statement before making its exit.

Quincy, which needed to win Wednesday night at Adams Field to advance past pool play, couldn’t match Palo Alto, Calif., and was eliminated via a 13-0 loss. The hosts finished the tournament with a 1-3 record – the one win a memorable 2-1, Opening Night victory over Tallahassee, Fla., winner of last year’s 13-year-old  Series.

“We knew we played as well as we could that night,” Quincy manager Dick Lombardi said. “We were just hoping to repeat that. It just never came about.”

Quincy turned to Luke McDonough, Saturday’s star, to try to remain in contention, but bad breaks, a few misplayed balls, and perhaps the toll of 100-plus pitches Saturday night took some of the snap out of McDonough’s pitches. And Palo Alto (3-1 in pool play to earn the No. 2 American Division seed), made sure it was ready to face the hard-throwing righty.

“The guys adjusted their swings,” manager Matthew Atwater said. “At batting practice (Wednesday), we threw quite a bit harder to them.”

After watching a pair of infield singles ignite a four-run, five-hit first inning, Quincy threatened in its first at-bat. Adam Nazzaro’s infield hit, followed by Joe Alibrandi’s double, put runners at second and third with one out, but Palo Alto starter Travis McHugh (who’d hit a two-run single in the first) retired the next two batters.

The Pacific Southeast champions added three  runs in the second, and although Quincy reliever Tim Liuzzo held Palo Alto to single runs in the third and fourth, the hosts’ Series-long batting slump continued. Quincy finished the tournament with only four runs.

“We had a chance in the first inning, if we could have had one more hit there,” Lombardi said.

“But they made the plays. The teams in this tournament are good. They don’t give you anything.”

Quincy took away plenty from its final Series experience, though. Lombardi was able to get every player into the game, and nearly everyone got an at-bat. Third basemen Alibrandi and Sam Lawlor both made several excellent defensive plays, and the last hit of the game – an infield single by Dennis Sullivan, who plays and contributes despite the effects of Cystic Fibrosis – was as much a highlight as Saturday’s win.

“That was the best part of this one,” Lombardi said. “For him to get out there, play in center field, get the hit – the guys loved it.”

All that said, Quincy still wished the end hadn’t come so soon.

“You knew it had to end sooner or later,” Lombardi said, “but it’s sad it’s over.

“I feel like I’m losing my kids.”
  
Mike Loftus may be reached at mloftus@ledger.com. 

Aug. 20, 2008: Travis McHugh receives congratulations from his Palo Alto, Calif., teammates after he scores in the top of the first inning against Quincy in the Babe Ruth 14-year-old World Series at Adams Field. Lisa Bul photo/The Patriot Ledger