NORTH WALTHAM BASEBALL: Reds win North Waltham title

Facing elimination, trailing 2-1, the Reds swept the Blue Jays in a doubleheader on Sunday to win the 2008 North Waltham Baseball League World Series.

The Reds were led offensively with clutch hitting by Gary Babigian, Kevin Bythewood and home runs by Ricky Manning and Matt Kane. Manning pitched six solid innings with steady defense provided by Bythewood at second base and Chris Leblanc in center field.

The second game was an extra-inning thriller. The Reds prevailed, 7-5, in seven innings.

This time, Babigian pitched six solid innings. Bythewood again provided solid defense, along with John Rezendes (third base) and Manning behind the plate.

Trailing, 5-1, after three innings, timely hitting by Ashley Sampson, Mark Rossi, Michael Dimascio, Kane and Babigian powered the Reds' comeback. Sampson, who knocked in the winning run, came in to pitch the 1-2-3 seventh to close out the game.

Vacationing players Chris Masrof and James Landry contributed to the Reds' success throughout the season.

The Blue Jays' Paige Hovsepian had a gutsy performance on both offense and defense.