Sports
Andover Comes Back Against Upstart Chelmsford to Win North Title
The Lions had a lead in the middle innings, but Andover ended their upset bid by coming back for the North Division 1 crown.
Mike O'Keefe figured out early on in the season that if his team go right the ship and make the postseason, his Chelmsford baseball squad would be a dangerous team. They made it, and several North Division 1 opponents can attest to just how right he was.
O'Keefe's charges made a run all the way to the North Division 1 championship game as the No. 11 seed, and they led Sunday's title game against Andover until the middle innings before the No. 8 seed came back with four runs in its final two at bats to earn the crown with a 6-3 win.
"It was a great run, a great season," said O'Keefe. "It was a tough season. We had a lot of ups and downs, and a lot of downs at the beginning of the year. But credit these guys. They were resilient, they stuck it out."
Chelmsford jumped to a 1-0 lead in the top of the first, but Andover bounced back quickly for a 2-1 edge after one frame. In the third, Derek Adamson blooped in a two-run single to give the Lions the lead back, 3-2,
But in the fifth inning Andover tied things up, and they took the lead for good in the sixth inning. Chelmsford got a one out single in the seventh but that was it and Andover celebrated the title.
Despite the loss, O'Keefe said his team has plenty to be proud of.
"I told them that right now I know it stings to lose, but they should be very proud of what they did this year," said O'Keefe.
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