The Senerchia Post 74 Hawks defeated the New England Frozen Lemonade - Shields Post 43 legion team in a curfew-shortened game at Mickey Stevens on Tuesday, 7-6, for their second win over NEFL in as many days.

After the fifth inning, with the time well past the field’s 10:15 p.m. curfew, the umpires convened with NEFL manager Jim Dawber, Senerchia manager Chris Sheehan and the league commissioner to decide what to do.

They would decide to call the game, allowing Senerchia to exit with a slim victory over its cross-town rival.

“I thought obviously it was a very chippy game between the two teams,” Sheehan said Wednesday. “They’ve always been our rival, a lot of emotion and energy involved in that game. Our guys stayed focus and came out with a win.”

Some of the bad blood stemmed from a couple separate incidents in the fourth inning. With the bases loaded and the game tied at 6, David Defusco drew a walk to drive in the eventual game-winning run. However, NEFL catcher Tyler DiPetrillo thought the pitch was a strike, so he threw down to first and easily caught Jordan Carvalho leaning for what seemed like the third out. The pickoff was called back, though, as Defusco already pushed the runner along with his free pass.

Dawber was still somewhat confused by the call, but Defusco remained at first. Then, NEFL first baseman Dan Greaves pulled the hidden ball trick on Defusco, tagging him out and ending the inning. Greaves high-stepped to the bench after he pulled off the move, and one of the umpires chatted with Defusco as he made his way back to the dugout.

“So, there was a big discussion going on because after we, me and [DiPetrillo], back-picked and tagged [Carvalho] out at first, there was a big discussion whether it was a strike or a ball,” Greaves said. “So I knew somebody had to get out. No one was paying attention because they were all looking at the ball four. So I looked at my pitcher Chris Reid and I said ‘Don’t take the ball, step off the mound and we’ll see if we can get him with this.’ And it worked, and it’s just what happens when people don’t pay attention.”

NEFL’s offense was not motivated much by the trickery, though. Four of its final six batters struck out and only one reached base – Greaves on a walk in the fifth inning. His pinch runner, Ryan Viti, would be caught stealing for the second out of the frame.

Senerchia’s attack was more consistent and ultimately made the difference. It jumped out ahead in the first inning after Brady Chant scored on Billy Roberge’s sacrifice fly.

NEFL tied the score in the bottom of the first with a James Meizoso sacrifice fly, but Senerchia jumped again on pitcher Austin Lamaire. Colin McBride scored with two outs on John Willette’s RBI bunt single before Nico Salvaggio came home on a double steal to make it 3-1. Roberge tacked on another when he scored on a passed ball in the fourth.

Down 4-1, NEFL had its best inning of the game, taking advantage of Senerchia’s bevy of errors. Chris Reid started the frame with a walk before Elvis Pimentel reached on an error at shortstop to put runners at the corners. A bad throw down on a stolen base attempt at second allowed Reid to dash home to cut the deficit to 2.

After Meizoso walked to put runners at first and second, Tyler Perry singled into left field to plate Pimentel and make it 4-3. The ball slipped by the left fielder, though, which allowed Meizoso to take third base.

“It was an intense game all the way through,” DiPetrillo said. “I would have loved to finish that game because it was back-to-back, they lead, we score. I would have liked to finish the game though.”

After Greaves went down swinging for the inning’s first out, Marcus Alexander stepped in and lined a single up the middle to bring Meizoso home with the tying run. The scoring continued when Zach Bacon’s ground ball took a bad hop and went into right field, allowing Perry and Alexander to come home to put NEFL ahead 6-4.

With Bacon at third, Senerchia pitcher Kyle Barbato got out of the jam by striking out Alex Lefebvre. Seven different NEFL batters struck out against Barbato.

“Barbato did a great job on the mound,” Sheehan said. “They had that one inning where they had the five runs and I think he gave up one hit. It’s a testament to him staying focused on the mound.”

In the top of the fourth, it was Senerchia’s turn to take advantage of NEFL’s miscues. The Hawks nearly batted around without the benefit of a hit, taking five walks and one hit-by-pitch to reach base. NEFL pitcher Steve Noti held Senerchia at bay with just one run in the third, but his control started to dip in the fourth.

Noti would walk four in the inning before being pulled for Reid with two outs, having allowed two runs to score on an error and a wild pitch. Reid hit Carvalho to load the bases, setting up the Defusco at-bat that would eventually win the game.

“I told them ‘Even if you fall behind early, you can’t give in because it’s such a long game, and not only that game [against NEFL] but the game before [against Upper Deck], we fell behind and we came back, we took a lead, we overcame some mental mistakes,” Sheehan said.

Both teams had come to Mickey Stevens just after finishing games prior to their scheduled 8 p.m. meeting, which didn’t start until around 8:30. Senerchia dropped a 10-8 decision to first-place Upper Deck - Post 86/14 at home. NEFL won in comeback fashion over R&R Construction - Post 18, 7-5, at Warwick Veterans in a game cut short by darkness.

NEFL finishes the regular season with a 17-9 record and sits in third place in the standings having won six of its last 8.

Senerchia (15-8) still has three games remaining, including a doubleheader on Wednesday. Providence Post 56 visits Ray Pepin Field before Senerchia ventures to Mickey Stevens once again to take on Collette Vacations - Post 79. The Hawks close out their regular season on Thursday at 5:30 p.m. when they travel to Portsmouth High School to oppose R&R.

Results for Senerchia’s Wednesday doubleheader were not available at press time.

Senior American Legion playoffs will begin this Saturday at La Salle Academy and McCarthy Stadium, but final seeding has yet to be determined.

“I think it’s about staying hot going into playoffs,” Sheehan said. “We’re going to work on the little things and pitching-wise I’m not trying to burn anybody out.”

“[We’re] gonna work hard all week,” DiPetrillo said on how NEFL will gear up for the playoffs. “That’s all we gotta do.”

“We’re both [DiPetrillo and I] happy to be here,” Greaves added. “Anything we can do to help the ball club.”