PBF legion wants to forget loss at Oxford

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Tom Arsenault delivers a pitch in the first inning of PBF's 13-2 loss at Oxford Tueday. Post 25 allowed 15 hits, 10 of which were given up by Arsenault, leading him to tell head coach Jim Augelli that he'll "never see that" again.

OXFORD — It was one of those games that head coach Jim Augelli and Prospect-Beacon Falls American Legion Post 25 would rather just forget.

PBF allowed 13 runs on 15 hits while walking seven batters, hitting two more, and committing two errors in a 13-2 loss to Oxford Tuesday at Oxford High.

Oxford scored in every inning and scored 12 unanswered runs from the first to the fifth, but the home squad didn’t necessarily hit the cover off the ball—all but two of Oxford’s hits were singles, more than a few of which didn’t even leave the infield.

PBF starter Tom Arsenault lasted three innings, allowing 10 runs—eight earned—on eight hits while walking five and hitting one.

“I think the fact that he hadn’t pitched in two weeks factored into his performance,” Augelli said. “He told me, ‘You’ll never see that from me again,’ and I think he’s right considering how well he pitched in the high school season.”

Mike Masulli and Connor Chura both relieved Arsenault. Masulli could not retire a batter before Chura minimized the damage. He finished the game, pitching three innings and allowing two runs on seven hits while walking none.

Offensively, Prospect-Beacon Falls managed seven hits. PBF jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the first when shortstop Kyle Georgia walked with two outs and scored on catcher Mike Diurno’s triple to center.

PBF’s other run came in the sixth, when second baseman Mike Hardy, who led off with a single, scored on a groundout by designated hitter Chris D’Occhio.

Diurno was 3-for-3 on the day with a triple and a pair of singles. Hardy was 2-for-3 with two singles, while first baseman Matt Sherman and third baseman Brian Langdon each added a single.

Despite the blowout loss, Augelli said he’s not concerned about his team.

“Oxford just came ready to play, and we didn’t,” he said. “They got key hits, and we didn’t. Our two previous games were good. This game, we just didn’t execute. We’re ready to forget this one and move onto the next game.”