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Groton-Dunstable Squeezes Out Win

In a well-played baseball matchup, Groton-Dunstable junior Justin Watt fired a complete game to lead the Crusaders to a 2-1 win over Tyngsborough (3-3) in a Midland-Wachusett league crossover game.  

Shortstop Kyle Priest's squeeze bunt in the bottom of the seventh was the winning play for the Crusaders. More on that later.

Watt went seven innings, allowing two hits, four walks, one earned run while striking out five. Tyngsborough's Matt Couglin was equally impressive pitching seven innings with one K, three walks, three hits and one earned run.

Key plays for GD came from Captain Jacob Barnes who threw out Tigers' Dylan Kyer attempting to steal second base to end the second inning. Justin Watt picked off Drew Hurynoic forcing an inning-ending rundown in the top of the fourth inning.

Tyngsborough threatened in the top of the sixth with runners on first and third and one out. But Watt got a ground ball and GD turned a 4-6-3 double play (Chris Lattini, Kyle Priest, Pat Keating) to get out of the mess.

All the scoring came in the seventh. The Tigers' Dillon Hanson drew a bases-loaded walk that scored Anthony Marisko and gave Tyngsboro a 1-0 lead in the top of the inning. But the host Crusaders rallied in the home half.

Coach Matt LeBlanc always plays on the edge and you knew the bottom of the seventh would be intriguing.

In the seventh, Matt Naughton pinch ran for Jacob Barnes, who had reached on a walk.

Aidan Ward drew a bases-loaded walk to tie the game.

After the game I asked coach LeBlanc to share with me the conversation he had with his shortstop prior to the game winning play. "I want a bunt. Can you lay down a bunt," he asked.

With the bases still loaded, Priest laid down a squeeze bunt to score pinch runner Jack Rivet and give Groton-Dunstable the victory over the Tigers!

Watt improved to 2-0 and received strong support from battery mate Jacob Barnes who called a great game.

GD had two runs on three hits, no errors. Tyngsborough scored a run on two hits, committed four errors.

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