HOLYOKE – For a moment, it seemed like Tuesday’s Western Massachusetts Class A championship game between No. 1 Pope Francis and No. 6 Minnechaug might need extra innings to declare a winner.
Through five-and-a-half scoreless innings, both baseball teams had stranded two combined runners thus far. Everything changed during the bottom of the sixth inning, though, as Ryan Vedovelli and Cole Miller recorded back-to-back singles.
Andrew Gagne then delivered the go-ahead, run-scoring double against Falcons starting pitcher Ethan Purcell to plate Vedovelli from second and secure the Cardinals (16-4) an eventual 3-0 win against Minnechaug at MacKenzie Stadium.
“I thought during scoreless innings you might feel secure because you might have all day to score runs,” Gagne said. “But really, we had to keep our heads down and get some runs across the scoreboard.
“At the end of the day, the score was 0-0, and the top of the order was coming up. So it was the perfect time for us to score those runs. But man, our top of the order is good … three hits in a row, and we just got the job done.”
On the pitching side, meanwhile, Jackson Petrin allowed two hits, one walk, and struck out seven in seven scoreless innings to help Pope Francis raise its first sectional crown in school history on Tuesday.
“This is an amazing feeling,” Gagne said. “I have nothing else to say; it’s just amazing. Jackson (Petrin) was a vital reason we were able to accomplish this after his seven scoreless innings.”
Minnechaug starting pitcher Ethan Purcell, meanwhile, allowed five hits, three earned runs, two walks, and struck out five in six innings of action. Bryce Barlow recorded their team’s lone hits via single and triple, while Ben Daniels earned one walk in a losing effort.
Although the Falcons moved to 12-9, Minnechaug coach Mike Netkovick remained proud of his team. They had previously defeated No. 3 Westfield and No. 7 Agawam to reach the sectional finals.
“This was an appropriate matchup for a Western Mass. championship,” he said. “It featured two great high school baseball teams battling each other in a close game. We have to tip our caps off to Pope Francis for putting something together there in the sixth inning.
“We played a lot of baseball in the last 10 days because I think we played seven games in about 10 or 11 days and some three in three days. So the guys got into a nice rhythm and battled, so I think it turned out to be a good thing.”
After three and a half scoreless innings, Pope Francis attempted to change that during the bottom of the fourth inning as Mark Jodoin connected for a line drive along the first-base line.
The momentum was shortlived, though, as Falcon first baseman Evan Liverseidge made an impressive diving catch to his left to ensure the Cardinals went down in order through that point.
Minnechaug was unable to counter in the top of the fifth inning, as Petrin struck out Sam Przybl to ensure the Falcons’ offense was retired one of their five combined times.
But things remained interesting during the bottom half, as Jacob Reyngold earned a two-out walk to keep the frame alive. Reyngold then became the first baserunner to reach scoring position as he stole second base.
It wasn’t enough, though, as Purcell struck out Garrett Piemonte on a 3-2 count to keep it a deadlock stalemate through five innings.
As both sides remained in search of an offensive spark, Barlow responded with a two-out triple to the gap in right-center field to ensure Minnechaug was 90 feet away from scoring the game’s first run. It was to no avail, though, as Alexander Savlick flew out to end the threat.
After both teams failed to convert on back-to-back potential scoring opportunities, Pope Francis made sure the third time was the charm as the Cardinals turned three consecutive hits and back-to-back sacrifice flies into three combined runs during the bottom of the sixth inning to emerge victorious.
Pope Francis has now outscored its opponents 27-0 during the regional postseason, as they extended its winning streak to nine games. This also marked the Cardinals’ fifth season shutout.
“That top of the order is so dangerous since it starts with Vedovelli, who just earned his fifth ring in high school,” Gagne said. “He has three in soccer, one in basketball, and now one in baseball. And then Cole Miller is a freak and Super 7 selection.
“And then there’s Mark Jodoin and I … we just execute every day and are unbeatable so far. And I hope this trend continues because our goal is to win the state tournament.”
