NORTH ADAMS -- North Adams Post 125 exploded for five runs in the second inning and never looked back, beating Tyler Aces 10-5 on Tuesday.
Post 125 and starter Mike Koperniak fell behind in the first inning, 2-0. The bats got going and Koperniak settled into a groove after that. Tanner Bird and Robert Jutras each drove in a pair of runs in the second inning.
"We've all been hitting the ball great," Jutras said. "We just feed off of each other, and we're all hitting the ball with confidence right now."
Conner Tworig got things going in the inning when he reached on an error and scored on a base hit by Zach Larabee. Larabee moved to third on a single by Chase Preite, who stole second. After Nate Alibozek walked, Bird singled to score a pair of runs. Jutras cleared the bases with a two-RBI double on the next pitch.
"It seems like each game we've had one inning where we explode," coach Bob Rumbolt said. "What I'm seeing now is they're starting to come together and they're picking each other up."
In the second inning, Post 125 had six consecutive batters reach base safely. In the first, fourth, and sixth they put three in a row on base. The fifth inning was the only one in which North Adams didn't record a hit or run.
"One person gets a base hit, then the next one, then the next guy picks them up," Rumbolt said. "They feed off of it."
A big inning, seems to be the trend for the team through the
"It gives our pitchers confidence early," Jutras said. "They know we'll pick them up and hit the ball hard. It just takes a lot of weight off the pitchers."
After a tough first inning Koperniak settled in. He didn't allow another run until the sixth inning. He also didn't allow a member of the Tyler Aces to reach second base for four straight innings.
"Hat's off to Michael Koperniak tonight," Rumbolt said. "He hasn't pitched in over three weeks, and he had a great performance on the mound."
He threw 101 pitches, and went six innings to get the win. The southpaw gave up eight hits, while striking out four and walking just one.
North Adams is off to a hot start this season, improving to 4-0 with the win.
"It's a really nice nucleus of kids," Rumbolt said. "We're starting to show our power."
Post 125 has players from Hoosac Valley, Drury, Taft, and MCLA. In the first week of the year, the team has come together nicely.
"I think we just like being around each other, we've all really meshed," Jutras said. "It's been easy, a nice transfer from the high school season."
Larabee finished the night withthree hits and a pair of RBI. Chase Preite also had two hits, and stole a pair of bases.
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North Adams 10, Tyler Aces 5
Tyler Aces 200 002 1 -- 5 11 3
North Adams 152 101 x -- 10 13 0
Michael Taylor (3), Caleb Roach (3) and Trevor Johnston. Mike Koperniak (6), Robert Jutras (1) and Conner Tworig. W--Koperniak. L--Taylor. 2B--Tyler 1 (Johnny Bianchi) North Adams 1 (Jutras).
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