'I couldn’t be prouder of these kids,' Rutland rallies in 6th to claim Section 1 title

RUTLAND — Things looked grim for Rutland in Sunday's Major Division state sectional championship game, as the squad was one out away from elimination in the top of the sixth inning. But as they've done all summer, Rutland's players stepped up when it mattered most.

Rutland's Nate Ferguson drove in Jackson Rosoff with a two-out double to right to tie the game, 4-4, and pinch runner Noah Stockenberg scored when Luke Pettes reached on a dropped third strike as Rutland rallied for a 7-4 win to claim the Section 1 Little League championship at Marsh Field.

Rutland, which added two insurance runs in the sixth on a passed ball and a single by Dean Bennett, will face Barnstable on Thursday in Oxford to begin the state tournament.

More: Rutland Little League holds off Holden to win its fourth straight District 4 championship

"We were down, but this team is never out," Rutland manager Brian Ferguson said. "These kids battled, and we had five nights on the road, for four games, we traveled over 12 hours this week to only play about six hours, and these kids just stayed in it, down to the last inning, down to the last out. We roared back on this one, and I couldn’t be prouder of these kids.”

“I knew it was the best thing for the team, and this team has done too much work together and have gone way too far to let our season end there,” Nate Ferguson said.

Ferguson also shined on the mound, allowing seven hits while striking out six in 5⅔ innings.

“You can’t ask for more,"said Brian Ferguson, Nate's father. "He did it. He did his job, which is part of the team effort, and we got here by big pitching from a lot of different kids.”

Longmeadow took a 2-0 lead to start the game, pushing runs across on a single by Ethan Chandler and a passed ball, but Ferguson hunkered down and retired seven consecutive hitters from the third inning until the fifth to keep Rutland within striking distance.

Nate Ferguson credited the exceptional defense behind him, led by shortstop Declan O'Connor and Rosoff in center field, who each recorded three putouts.

“I just know that if I let them put the ball in play, they’re going to make the plays,” Ferguson said.

Longmeadow starting pitcher Mae Dunninine also played well. He struck out five and fielded his position well, notching two putouts.

With Rutland trailing, 2-1, in the fifth inning, Logan Tessier, who drove in a winning run for his team earlier in the tournament, delivered a two-out single to tie the game before O'Connor put Rutland up after scoring on a single by Mason Ramos.

All of Rutland's runs came with two outs.

"They’re ready to go," Brian Ferguson said. "They did a great job of putting the pressure away and just getting it done. That’s what they do. They don’t quit.”

Longmeadow responded with a pair of runs on four hits to retake the lead, 4-3, in the fifth inning, setting the stage for Rutland's late rally.

“They’ve been friends since they were five, and (assistant) coach (Tim) O’Connor years ago said, ‘Team, teammates, self,’ as the order of operations for this team. and they live it," Brian Ferguson said. "They do things together. They pick each other up. When one gets down someone else picks them up, and it’s 12-year-old baseball, and that’s what they do.”

—Contact Mike Shattuck at michael.shattuck@telegram.com. Follow him on Twitter @mikeshattuck.

This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Rutland rallies to claim Section 1 Little League championship