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ACUSHNET - Those pitches being delivered from the mound at Pope Field just might have been beach balls.

"You go through streaks like that," related Bishop Feehan High product and Fordham University-bound Ryan Lee, who drove in eight runs with four hits, including two home runs.

"In a game like this, it becomes contagious, everyone goes up there thinking that they're hitting," said Bishop Feehan High senior Billy Karalis, who jacked a two-run homer, one of four "out-of-the-park" experiences.

Batting averages were boosted and the accolades just keep on accumulating for the South Attleboro American Legion Post 312 baseball team.

The South Sectional Tournament champions notched their 28th victory of the season in most convincing style Saturday, amassing 19 hits (six starters with multiple hits!) in an 18-2 conquest of East Longmeadow in the opening round of the Massachusetts American Legion Tournament. South Attleboro advances to a winner's round bracket game this evening at 7.

Bishop Feehan High senior pitcher Sam Dodge scattered two hits, allowing just four baserunners through four innings of duty. The righthander retired eight East Longmeadow batters on strikes, getting out of a bases-loaded jam in the third inning, Post 293 batters going 0-4 against him with runners in scoring position.

"I haven't seen anything like that in a while," said East Longmeadow coach Jason Shea of the South Attleboro bombastic approach at the plates with their bats. "Not just that, but their pitching, their defense - that's a great baseball team over there."

Lee belted a three-run homer in the third inning and a grand slam homer in the sixth inning. How's this for a hit parade? Lee went 4-for-5 at the plate followed by Lucas Gagne (two hits, two RBI), Karalis (three hits), Evan Dean (two hits), Paul Piatelli (three hits) and Alex Witkus (two hits). And No. 9 batter Ryan Cronin drew a pair of walks. The top four batters in the Post 312 order went a combined 10-for-18!

And consider this, East Longmeadow came in with a 20-2 slate, starting pitcher Steve Hall, out of East Longmeadow High and to be attending Western New England College, was unbeaten in five summer starts.

South Attleboro scored four runs on four hits in the second inning off Hall and then sent 11 batters to the plate in the third inning, scoring eight runs on six hits.

And if that wasn't enough, Witkus, the North Attleboro High senior, socked his first homer of the season, a solo shot to left field in the fourth inning, while Post 312 used three walks and four hits to plate five more runs in the sixth inning.

"We're playing our best baseball of the year," said Lee. "The warm weather helps, the ball seems to carry."

Not even a near two-hour delay for the start of the game could temper the torment that South Attleboro would besiege upon East Longmeadow.

Other than a two-out, two-run homer off the bat of East Longmeadow's Kevin Percy, off Post 312 reliever Conor Larkin in the fifth inning, South Attleboro was flawless - only twice allowing leadoff batters to reach base, not committing an error in the field (whereas Post 293 committed four guffaws). South Attleboro took the lead with a quartet of unearned runs in the second inning - all the result of an errant, between pitches toss from the East Longmeadow catcher to the pitcher. Dean began the rally by reaching base on an error. He moved into scoring position on Piatelli's single into center field and scored on the unobserved, unattended toss back to the mound.

That opened the door for Post 312. Witkus placed down a perfect bunt that nestled on the third base line, Cronin drew a two-out walk, Lee hammered an RBI-single into centerfield and Gagne followed by belting a two-run double into left center field.

Two more East Longmeadow errors opened the floodgates for South Attleboro in the third inning. After Dean singled and Piatelli doubled, Witkus' ground ball was misplayed - twice - allowing both Post 312 runners to score.

Dodge delivered an RBI-single to support his cause, Cronin drew another free pass to first base and Lee smashed the first of his two homers, a three-run shot over the right center field wall. But Post 312 wasn't done with the assault. Matt Boulter unloaded a double and Karalis deposited a two-run homer over the right field wall.

Even though Post 312 stranded runners at third base three times and three times hit into double plays (in the first, second and fourth innings) that didn't alter their approach at the plate.

"The last two weeks, the kids have been on fire," said South Attleboro acting manager John Stefanik.

Lee placed an exclamation mark upon Post 312's quest for the state title in the sixth inning with his grand slam homer. Piatelli singled, then both Witkus and Larkin drew walks to jam the bags for the Shamrock slugger.

But wait, South Attleboro wasn't done shattering the scoreboard. Boulter drew a walk, Karalis singled and Dean delivered an RBI-single (one of six Post 312 batters driving in runs).

"It's sound corny, but they're hitting strikes - they're making the other team pay," added Stefanik.

East Longmeadow 000 020 0xx-2 4 4

South Attleboro 048 105 xxx-18 19 0

Hall, Donermeyer (3), O'Neil (5) and Alben, Ferguson (6); Dodge, Larkin (5), Dean (7) and Karalis; W-Dodge (6-1. L-Hall (5-1).