By Jim Lockwood
Staff Writer

After his team was eliminated in the 2005 New Hampshire American Legion Baseball Tournament by Plymouth Post 66, 9-6, at Gill Stadium on Wednesday, Aug. 3, Darren McLean of Goffstown takes some time to reflect on a solid season that concluded without a crack at the state crown. (Jim Lockwood Photo)

MANCHESTER – Jutras Post 43 fell short in its bid for baseball’s 2005 American Legion state title. But it scored some solid victories in its run through the state tournament.

Two years after winning its last title, Jutras advanced to the losers’ bracket final before bowing out to Plymouth Post 66. Included in that march was a convincing win over longtime Queen City rival and defending state champion Sweeney Post 2.

In addition to knocking out its nemesis in ’05, Jutras had several players achieve individual success, despite taking the field at less than 100 percent.

Goffstown’s Jamie Morin pitched the final game against Plymouth. Although he took the loss in a 9-6 setback at Gill Stadium on Wednesday, Aug. 3, the fact he marched to the mound was a tremendous triumph.

Earlier in the year, Morin said he was told pitching might not be part of his future plans.

A freshman on the University of Vermont baseball team, Morin was playing long toss in the preseason when sharp pain, followed by sudden weakness, struck the southpaw’s left elbow.

Morin learned he had a stress fracture and bone chips in the elbow. The lefty also said he suffered from ligament damage in his left forearm.

A visit with the Catamounts’ trainer and rehabilitation followed. Then, it was time to see how great a toll the injury took on his arm.

Morin said the first doctor he met told him, based on X-rays showing a fracture and bone chips, he’d require surgery to throw again.

According to the local star, he sought a second opinion from a hand and arm specialist – and received it just days before the Jutras contest with Plymouth.

This time, the doctor told Morin his arm was healthy enough for pitching; the scar tissue would heal the injury.

“ (Morin’s outing) was very courageous,” said Jutras head coach Tom French. “He wasn’t as sharp as he usually is. You’ve got to take your hat off to the kid for wanting to contribute.”

Morin’s teammate, Phil Lamy, also played through discomfort.

Competing against Sweeney with a dislocated finger, Lamy had a key two-run single in the seventh inning to put Jutras up by five runs en route to the 9-1 win, which ended the champs’ chance for a second straight crown. Lamy finished 3-for-5 with two runs scored and two runs batted in.

In the same game, Nick Cenatiempo was virtually unhittable in one of his best outings of the summer. Along with 13 strikeouts against Sweeney, he scattered just three hits.

Prior to the eight-run victory, Sweeney won 21 consecutive Legion contests.

“ When you play for the city you have a lot of pride,” said Jutras first baseman Tom Pavesi. “After we beat (Sweeney), we wanted to win the whole thing for Manchester.”

Jutras posted a 17-3 regular season record and entered the state tourney as the top seed out of District B.

Early in tournament play, a Jutras-Sweeney championship matchup seemed possible, since Sweeney earned the top spot in District A.

However, seven Jutras errors and more than 20 Londonderry hits quickly thwarted those plans. Jutras went into the losers’ bracket in its second game after losing to eventual state champion Londonderry, 18-7.

“ (Losing to Londonderry) was kind of a reality check,” Nick Travelyn said. “We (didn’t) want to go on being too confident.”

Jutras rebounded with an 11-7 triumph against Exeter, forcing the matchup with Manchester’s other Legion powerhouse.

The ’05 Jutras roster included Goffstown’s Connor Badasarian, Stephen Desjarlais, Dave Fradette, Tom French, Tom MacDonald, Darren McLean, Morin, Pavesi, Jeff Perkins and Taylor Vesey; Bedford’s Joe Beaulieu, Matt Costa, Jake McCarthy, John Nelson, Andrew Schunk and Travellyn; plus Cenatiempo and Lamy.