By Jim Lockwood
Staff Writer

Steve Beal (left) and Pat Naughton of Goffstown’s 13-year-old state champion Babe Ruth team, congratulate each other after the squad’s 4-3 win against Maine in the regional tournament on Aug. 7. (Jim Lockwood Photo)

GOFFSTOWN — Through Goffstown’s first two games of the 13-year-old Babe Ruth Regional Baseball Tournament, competing on the home field didn’t offer an overwhelming advantage.

From Saturday, Aug. 6, through Wednesday, Aug. 11, Goffstown hosted the tournament at Allard Park, which featured New England’s various state champions.

The tournament also gave Goffstown, New Hampshire’s state champ, another matchup with runner-up Keene.

Goffstown head coach Allan Palmer hoped his club would hold an advantage. But his club didn’t perform to its capability at the plate, despite splitting its first two games.

Theoretically, the host team benefits from playing at home because it knows the subtle nuances of the field that make it different from other playing surfaces.

However, in Goffstown’s early games against Keene and Augusta, Maine, Allard Park didn’t provide the locals with any added advantages.

Playing at Allard also didn’t help Goffstown hit the ball against Mike Boden, Keene’s top hurler.

Goffstown mustered only six hits — two by Steve Beal and one each by Steve French, Riley Palmer, Pat Naughton and Nick Nalette.

According to the head coach, Goffstown played good defense, keeping Keene quiet until the top of the seventh inning when the opposition scored five runs.

Keene eventually won, 6-2, forcing Goffstown to play the remainder of the tournament out of the losers’ bracket.

The matchup with Keene was one of many in a span of two weeks. Goffstown met Keene in a state semifinal and then defeated them for the state title.

Against Maine, the hitting woes continued for Goffstown, as it had only five hits in the first seven innings.

But in extra frames, Pat Naughton laced an RBI single to right field, scoring Andy Gordon for the winning run in the locals’ 4-3 eight-inning victory.

“ These kids are used to playing in so many places,” said Palmer, who admitted the only real advantage was that, according to Babe Ruth tournament regulations, the host team automatically receives a berth.

Still, Goffstown wanted to earn the right to be invited, which it did by claiming the state crown.