WORCESTER – Just name them the “Double Champs” now.
Milton accomplished its march into historical past on Friday night time at Polar Park because the Wildcats turned simply the second group to repeat as Division 2 baseball champions due to a 6-2 win over King Philip.
“This is a special group of kids,” Wildcats coach Brendan Morrissey stated. “To get back here and do this again is just crazy and something that is truly special.”
It was a group effort in each sense of the phrase for the Wildcats (22-3) on Friday as Owen McHugh struck out 11 and added two hits, an RBI and a run scored from his leadoff spot in his last sport in Milton colours. At the opposite finish of the lineup, No. 9 batter Harry Hinckle was 2-for-2 with two runs scored as he helped ignite issues after a shaky begin for the Wildcats.
“We have Harry down there for a reason,” Morrissey stated. “He has great speed and allows us to turn the lineup over.”
It was an evening of missed probabilities for the Warriors (17-8), nonetheless, as they put the leadoff man aboard in every of the primary 5 innings in opposition to McHugh. But they solely had one run to point out for it.
“They (King Philip) are a really good team and we knew it was going to be tough,” McHugh stated. “I have a lot of faith in our lineup and they were able to come through.”
After the Warriors took a 1-0 lead proper off the bat thanks to 3 singles, capped by a RBI hit from Tommy Martorano, it appeared just like the guests had been able to flip the script from final season. And after they had males on first and third with one out within the second, issues had been getting sketchy for McHugh and his mates.
Showing his poise and expertise, McHugh struck out the ultimate two batters to flee the jam and provides his group an opportunity to calm down.
“Owen has the heart of a champion,” Morrissey stated. “He just doesn’t get rattled and he settled in really well after those first couple of innings.”
The downside for the Wildcats was that King Philip starter Rudy Gately was additionally in a pleasant groove. That was till he misplaced his command within the prime of the third.
Hinckle obtained the inning began with a double. McHugh adopted with a single and a four-pitch stroll to Jimmy Fallon loaded the bases. Another 4 pitch stroll moments later, this one to Scott Longo, scored Hinckle to tie the sport.
Then got here the game-changing play as Jack Finnegan’s tailor made double play ball was a throwing error that allowed McHugh and Fallon to attain for a 3-1 Wildcats lead.
Suddenly reinvigorated, McHugh then obtained on a roll. After throwing 55 pitches within the first three innings, he wanted solely six to get by way of the fourth. Gately then obtained the primary two batters within the backside half however Hinckle singled to increase the inning and switch the lineup over.
After a stolen base, McHugh doubled simply contained in the left discipline line to carry Hinckle round and prolong the result in 4-1.
The Warriors weren’t able to go away and had an opportunity to make a sport of it within the prime of the sixth. A one-out stroll to Aidan Astorino was adopted by singles from Gately and Tommy McLeish that lower the result in 4-2. After McHugh struck out pinch hitter Johnny Prater, he departed in favor of left-hander Tommy Mitchell.
A wild pitch put runners on second and third with lead-off man Max Robison up. But Robison by no means obtained an opportunity to tie the sport as Mitchell’s 1-1 pitch bounced off Finnegan’s glove and obtained away. Gately tried to attain however Finnegan was capable of get better the ball and flip it to a masking Mitchell to get the out at dwelling.
“Tommy showed what kind of athlete he was on that play,” Morrissey stated.
The Wildcats put the sport away within the backside of the inning. Pinch hitter John Sullivan singled with one out and stole second. Hinckle adopted with a stroll earlier than a handed ball moved the runners up 90 ft.
After reliever Martorano obtained McHugh swinging for the second out, Fallon ripped a 3-1 pitch for a single that scored Sullivan. The Wildcats then referred to as a play they hadn’t used all 12 months as with Longo in an 0-2 gap, Fallon broke for second however fell down to attract a throw. When he did, Hinckle raced dwelling to provide his group a four-run lead.
All that was left was for Mitchell to come back out and end off a historic win, which he fittingly did by getting Matt Kelley seeking to finish the sport.
Source: www.bostonherald.com