By John Orrell
Landmark correspondent
RUTLAND — Years from now, players, coaches and team supporters who attended Sunday’s Section 1 championship matchup with Longmeadow will be able to say they were there when the 2023 Rutland Little League All-Star team pulled off one of the greatest and most unforgettable comeback victories in town history.
Trailing by a single run to visiting Longmeadow in the sixth and final inning, with a berth in the state championship round on the line, Rutland was down to their last out and needed a rally for the ages.
They got just that from this band of steely and gritty 12-year-olds who refused to lose, keeping their summer season alive.
It all began when Dean Bennet cracked a one-out single and was erased on a Jacory Acker fielder’s choice. Declan O’Connor and Mason Ramos both delivered base hits to score Acker to set the stage for the evening’s heroics, which all began with two outs in the sixth and final frame, the team trailing 4-3.
Jackson Rosoff got things going with a single before pitcher Nate Ferguson belted an RBI double to even the score. The rally could have ended here, when Luke Pettes swung and missed on a third strike. But the Longmeadow catcher had trouble collecting the ball for the throw to first base. Pettes motored down the line and beat the throw to keep the comeback alive.
“I was so nervous. I didn’t want to see our season done,” said Rosoff postgame. “I was hoping I’d get on base and Nate would hit me home, and he did. He came through.”
Petey Sinclair followed with a double to left and would score on Dean Bennett’s RBI single. Bennett would go 2-for-3 on the night, as would O’Connor and Ramos. O’Connor also came on in relief to pitch the final third of an inning to record the save.
“I feel like this team has come a long way. As soon as I hit it, I just wanted to get to second base,” Sinclair said.
“We were down, but this team is never out. All our runs came with 2 outs,” said Rutland manager Brian Ferguson. “We had five nights on the road. We traveled over 12 hours this week to play baseball, and these kids stayed in it down to the last out. We roared back in this one. I couldn’t be more proud of these kids. They lift each other up. When someone gets down, someone else picks them up.
“Nathan (Ferguson) pitched really well. He went 5⅔ (innings), and you can’t ask for more. He did his job, which is part of the team effort. We got here by a lot of good pitching from a lot of kids.”
“This team has put too much work together and come way too far to have our season end,” said Nathan. “We’re confident. We never give up until the last out. We’re all great friends, so we’ve built really good relationships. I know that if I let them put the ball in play, the defense is going to make plays.’
Longmeadow fought hard in their final three outs but could not undo the damage done by Rutland in their half of the inning. The last out sealed the win for Rutland, setting the stage for a euphoric celebration that included the customary lap around the field carrying the new team banner.
This advancement to the Section 1 championship and State championship finals is the farthest ascension in town history for 12 year-olds.
The team now travels to Oxford for State championship playoffs with an opening matchup versus Barnstable set for Thursday, July 27, at 7 p.m.
Members of the 2023 Rutland Little League State championship finalist team are Jacory Acker, Dean Bennett, Ben Crowne, Nathan Ferguson, Ryan Frederick, Declan O’Connor, Luke Pettes, Mason Ramos, Jackson Rosoff, Petey Sinclair, Noah Stockenberg and Logan Tessier. Manager is Brian Ferguson, assisted by Tim O’Connor and Tom Rosoff.
