By Jim Lockwood
Staff Writer

Danny Ciruzzi keeps his hands back before exploding on the ball for a second-inning double to centerfield during Goffstown's 11-10 triumph against Salem South in Game 1 of the 11-year-old Little League baseball state championship series on July 23. (Jim Lockwood Photo)

GOFFSTOWN – The pitching staff allowed 25 runs through its first seven games in this year's New Hampshire 11-year-old Little League Baseball Tournament.

Usually, a pitching line with those numbers translates to an early exit from a double-elimination tournament.

Then again, this pitching line belongs to Goffstown's all-stars.

While the locals allowed more than its fair share of runs – with 10 surrendered in one game – they posted 70 runs on offense.

That's the reason this team full of solid hitters throughout the lineup marched all the way to the state championship series against Salem Youth.

"We just come out early and hit," said Dylan Bisceglia, who boasted a batting average around .500 in the tournament.

Since Goffstown lost the third game of its tourney run, 5-0, to Salem South, the team responded by scoring 10 or more runs on four occasions.

In only one of its wins did Goffstown produce less than 10 runs, a 6-1 triumph against Manchester East in the second game.

Goffstown started off with an 11-6 win over Manchester South. After facing East and Salem, it rattled off wins against Lamprey River, 10-0; Bedford, 12-5; and Manchester North, 14-3.

The boys' only major scare was in the first of two contests against Salem in the title round.

Typical of its play all year, Goffstown opened up an 8-3 lead after two innings of play and took an 11-6 advantage into the game's final inning.

"We're coming out fast and furious," said Goffstown head coach John Allard. "We've got a team that can hit, run, get on base and keep moving."

The infield self-imploded as the team let in four runs on four errors and four hits.

Still, Goffstown managed to survive its most frightening frame of the tourney.

"Everybody's been a hero at one point or another," said Allard, whose lineup is much more than one or two big bats. "It's fun to be a part of. You don't know who's going to be the guy."

Entering the championship series finale on Monday, July 25, a game won by Salem, the locals had several offensive stars along with Bisceglia.

Tucker Allard was hitting at a .450 clip and Jake Chezick owned a .350 average.

Cliff Barber belted two homers and three triples, while Rob Barber recorded three taters.

Cliff Barber's dingers were against Bedford, a three-run blast, and South, a solo shot.

In the game against South, Bisceglia had three hits and a run, while Allard posted a triple, double and one run scored. Chezick added two hits and two RBI.

Caleb Cejka had a hit and a run scored against Bedford.

In the team's prior tourney matchup with Salem, Rob Barber had three hits, two runs scored and four RBI.

Allard, Rob Barber, Chezick, and Kyle Bisceglia had multiple hits against Salem in Game 1 of the championship matchup on Saturday, July 23.

Even though the pitching staff was far from dominant, it could post momentous performances when needed, the head coach said.

Danny Ciruzzi recorded a no-hitter on the mound in the win over Lamprey River and Chezick had two saves in the postseason.

Defensively, Goffstown was led by Rob Barber's 22 putouts.

The team's roster included Dylan Bisceglia, Tucker Allard, Rob Barber, Jake Chezick, Cliff Barber, Kyle Bisceglia, Connor Shaw, Danny Ciruzzi, Caleb Cejka, Aaron Lichtenwaller and Tayler St. Onge.