Meet the two players who spearheaded Fall River's run to the Mass. Legion state championship
Matt Almeida allowed four runs over six innings, but gave up just three hits over his final four frames.
Ken McGagh for The Boston Globe
The ace
Matt Almeida stepped off the mound Monday after recording a save against Shrewsbury and punching Fall River's ticket to the final.
When the teams met again in the championship game, he was even better.
Starting on the mound and as leadoff hitter, the rising junior from Swansea earned the win and collected two hits, a run, and an RBI to take home tournament MVP honors.
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'It's a team effort,' said Almeida, who struck out four and walked one in six innings. 'We all hold each other [accountable] the whole tournament. It feels great to have this success.'
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Almeida was coming off a sophomore season at Diman that saw him named a Mayflower Conference All-Star after hitting .388 and playing elite defense at shortstop.
Almeida opened the game with a statement, striking out the first two batters. Errors and a pair of doubles led to three Shrewsbury runs in the second inning, but Almeida stayed focused and kept pitching his game.
'Just trust your teammates and trust that we're going to pull for each other and trust that we're going to go out on the field and we're going to show our best,' he said.
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Almeida settled in, allowing just three hits the rest of the way as Fall River cut its deficit to 3-2 heading into the fourth.
'I just stayed focused on the mound, threw strikes, and let my D play,' Almeida said.
With two runners on in the fourth, Almeida laced a single to right field, driving in a run and cutting the deficit to 4-3. Espinal then plated Almeida for the go-ahead run. Post 464 never trailed again.
Matt Almeida races home with the go-ahead run for Fall River in the fourth inning.
Ken McGagh for The Boston Globe
With bases loaded and a one-run lead in the fifth inning, Almeida forced a fly out. Then he sat down Shrewsbury in order in the sixth — thanks to Espinal's diving catch at shortstop — before giving way to Espinal for the seventh as Almeida neared the maximum pitch count of 105.
After coming up with the game's biggest hit, and making a key defensive play at shortstop, Jeylen Espinal closed the game with a save.
Ken McGagh for The Boston Globe
The veteran
Four years Almeida's senior and a rising sophomore on the Bridgewater State baseball team, Espinal stepped up in his final year of eligibility.
'I'm one of the older guys, so I know I have to lead by example,' he said. 'I'm just trying to do what I got to do, and just lead the guys.'
After walking to force in Fall River's first run, Espinal delivered the biggest hit of the game, a two-run single into center field for a 4-3 lead Fall River never relinquished.
Fall River Post 464 manager Sean Travis celebrates with Jeyden Espinal (left) and Matt Almeida (right).
Ken McGagh for The Boston Globe
With the game on the line and Almeida facing the innings limit Espinal took the mound for the seventh.
'These kids are willing to play any position, which is huge.' Fall River manager Sean Travis said. 'I [had] my shortstop that isn't a pitcher, [go] into the last inning to close. These kids have got guts.'
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Espinal recorded two quick outs before plunking one hitter and walking another. But he maintained his composure and secured a fly out to right field to bring Fall River glory for the second time in the 100 year history of the tournament.
Fall River faces New Hampshire's Bedford Post 221 in the American Legion Region One tournament Wednesday
'We're ready to go,' Espinal said.
Toby Moses can be reached at
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