HOLYOKE — Tommy Bouvier watched two of his PeoplesBank teammates walk on eight straight balls.

He stepped into the batter’s box at Mackenzie Stadium in the second inning with the bases loaded looking for one thing.

“I knew that he was struggling, and the first pitch would be right over the middle,” Bouvier said. “I knew the fastball was coming.”

It did, and Bouvier sent it into right field. That brought around two runs to break a tie and spark a seven-run inning.

PeoplesBank held on to beat Easthampton Savings Bank 8-7 in the decisive game of a Tri-County League baseball semifinal series Monday. St. Joseph’s awaits in the championship series, which starts Wednesday.

The bottom of the second inning started with a double by PeoplesBank designated hitter Ted Lerud, as Easthampton Savings Bank led 1-0. Kyle Platner grounded out to move him to third. Rey Rivera singled him in to tie the game, then Pete Hogan popped out.

Sam Allen and Joe Ferry then walked to load the bases for Bouvier.

His two-run single put PeoplesBank up 3-1. Ferry scored on a wild pitch. The bases were loaded again after Ryan Franczek was hit by a pitch and Dave Clark walked.

That brought up Lerud again. He also walked to drive in a run and make it 5-1, but the bases were still loaded.

Platner hit a two-run double that put Peoples up 7-1.

“We got it started, and everyone got behind each other,” Lerud said. “It was about being patient.”

Easthampton Savings Bank wasn’t rattled by the big inning. It cut the deficit to 7-3 in the bottom half of the second on an RBI groundout by Tyler Lyne and an RBI double by Connor McMahon.

“I knew we were going to hit. It was only a matter of time,” Easthampton Savings Bank coach Joe Lachym said. “I knew we were going to make it a game. I was never worried about us getting blown out.”

PeoplesBank added one more run in the fourth on an RBI single by Lerud to go up 8-3.

Easthampton Savings Bank surged in the sixth. McMahon led off with a single followed by walks from Colin Dunn and Drew Dombkowski to load the bases.

Arismendy Larancuent hit a two-run double to right, while two throwing errors allowed a third run to score and put Larancuent on third with Easthampton Savings Bank down 8-6. He came home on a wild pitch to reduce the deficit to one run heading into the seventh and final inning.

“There’s always nerves, but we have depth, pitching-wise and they stepped up,” Bouvier said.

Easthampton Savings Bank started the seventh with a walk from Sean Murphy and a single by Lyne. McMahon struck out, then Dunn flew out. Dombkowski walked to load the bases, but Larancuent flew out to end the game.

“We’ve got to refocus,” Lerud said. “It’s another tough team for the championship.”

]]>