PALMER — Greenfield Post 81’s chances for a American Legion Senior Division Championship come down to one game on Saturday.  

Greenfield lost to Wilbraham Post 286 Red, 6-4, on Friday night at Legion Field. 

The loss puts Greenfield in an elimination game at Spec Pond at 4 p.m. against the winner of Agawam and Monson.

“Now were are in the loser’s bracket, but we have just as good a chance as anyone,” Greenfield coach Kyle Phelps said.  “Everything but the kitchen sink tomorrow. It’s win or go home.”

Greenfield trailed Wilbraham in the sixth inning, 6-1. Connor Waitkus’ three-run double cut the lead to 6-4, but Greenfield went in order in the bottom of the seventh.

“I told them it was up to you guys,” Phelps said. “You gotta have pride. They showed a lot of guts. We haven’t given up until the final out.”

All pitchers outside of Joel Peabody and Owen Phelps are available tomorrow for Greenfield — including Ben Arnold, Kalen Evans and Jacob Berry.

Peabody took the loss on the mound for Greenfield, striking out four hitters in four and one-third innings,

Wilbraham Red’s Dom Colluci picked up the win, pitching into the sixth before coming out for Troy Donohue. All four runs were charged to Colluci.

Greenfield scored first in the second inning.

Waitkus, Arnold and Evans all singled to load the bases but could only get one run when Waitkus scored on a wild pitch, giving Greenfield a 1-0 lead.

Arnold tried to scored on a fly ball to center by Hunter Campbell but was gunned down to to end the inning.

Wilbraham Red took a 2-1 lead in the top of the third on RBI hits by Joe Lucas and Troy Donohue.

Wilbraham Red scored again in the fifth on a pass ball. Donohue knocked in two more runs on a double later in the fifth to give Wilbraham a 5-1 lead.

Sam Bobala doubled in the bottom of the fifth for Greenfield.

Wilbraham added insurance in the sixth with an RBI single from Connor O'Brien.

Peabody worked around a first inning double by Lucas. JP Catellier hit a hard grounder with two outs toward third base but Evans got his glove on it to make the throw to first.

Hunter Campbell made a nice pick to end the inning, stranding Lucas at second.

Peabody allowed a hit and a walk in the second inning but Waitkus made a running, sliding catch on a hard liner in center to end the inning.

Wilbraham  Red 6, Greenfield 4

Wilbraham  ................002 031 0 — 6  10  1

Greenfield  .................010 003 0 — 4  7  2

Hits: (W) Ben Dunklee 2, Colucci, Joe Lucas 2, Cole Rigney, Troy Donohue 2, Connor O’Brien 2.  (G) DeForest, Waitkus 2, Ben Arnold, Kalen Evans, Sam Bobala

2B: Joe Lucas 2, Ben Dunklee, Connor O’Brien, Troy Donohue. (G) Bobala, Waitkus

 

RBI:  (W) Lucas, Donohue3, Connor O'Brien. (G) Waitkus 3 

WP:  Colucci (5 ip, 1 bb 2 k) Donohue (2 ip 0 bb 1 k)

LP:  Peabody (4 1/3 ip  1 bb 4k) Arnold (2/3 ip o bb 2k) Berry (1 1/3 ip  o bb o k) Evans (1 ip o bb 2 k) 

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