SHEFFIELD ― In a test of resiliency and defensive execution, the Eagles came out on top on Thursday.
Jonny Ireland provided a walk-off hit to send No. 11 Mount Everett baseball past No. 22 Monson, 6-5, in the MIAA Division V state tournament round of 16.
Mount Everett (12-7) will face No. 3 Drury in the quarterfinals on Sunday, June 8 at 11:30 a.m.
As the Eagles’ freshman walked up to the plate with the bases loaded and two outs in the bottom of the seventh, Mount Everett baseball coach Dan Lanoue was confident in his young but experienced second basemen.
“He’s been playing for a long time,” Lanoue said after the game, having moved up Ireland to the varsity squad as an eighth-grader last season. “He knew the situation and he did what he had to do.”
“It’s phenomenal because it just shows a trust that he has in himself.”
Ireland’s hit had the Eagles’ dugout jumping for joy from the moment the ball left his bat, a line drive to left field. His teammates mobbed him on the base path after quickly celebrating with Darius Taliaferro following his slide into home plate.
Mount Everett’s Jonny Ireland celebrates with his team after his walk-off hit against Monson in the D-V baseball state tournament round of 16 on June 5, 2025. Kenneth Manoj
“It’s a great win for the team, we all played great,” Ireland said. “JJ (Schneider) did a great job setting us up with a bunt… that’s all you can ask for.
“I was just looking for a pitch middle-away, looking to drive the ball (to left field) because I really like going that way and the first pitch I saw it.”
The Eagles took the first lead off an RBI groundout from Sean Warren in the opening inning, but had it not been for a nifty double-play from first baseman Brady Carpenter, the Mustangs could’ve struck big early. The visitors earned a walk and a single to put two runners on with no outs, but a line drive to Carpenter was snagged and whipped to second base for a smart double-play.
“Not only (do double plays) boost the team up, but it settles down our pitching,” Lanou said.
Warren escaped the first without any runs scoring before finding his groove in the second, putting the Mustangs down in order. Ireland tripled the Eagles’ advantage with an RBI double later in the inning.
But this cushion did not last for long as the Mustangs broke open in the third inning, scoring four runs to capture the lead. Warren was replaced by Brody Kinna on the mound after the Mustangs earned a walk with the bases loaded.
The pitching change did not stop the flow of runs as Kinna walked in another run and surrendered a single to Benjamin Pignone. An RBI groundout from Lucas Pignone put the Mustangs in front before Kinna could close the inning.
The Eagles quickly equalized in the bottom of the frame off an RBI fielder’s choice off the bat of Trevor Leonard. Kinna bounced back in the fourth, allowing just a walk before closing out the frame.
“I just thought about breathing, breathing a lot, (my) coaches helped me with that,” Kinna said. “Just take some deep breaths and get out the next guy.”
An RBI double from Jacob Kreis put the Eagle back in front in the bottom of the fourth and Kinna continued to cruise along, keeping the Mustangs quiet in the fifth and sixth. Another double-play for the Eagles played a key role in closing out the Mustangs’ efforts in the sixth.
The Eagles switched it up on the mound in the seventh, sending Kreis to close. But the Mustangs were not done yet and they managed to equalize once more, this time off a sac fly from Shane Szado.
Monson’s Shane Szado with the game-tying sacrifice fly in the seventh inning of the Mustangs’ round of 16 matchup against Mount Everett on June 5, 2025.Kenneth Manoj
Kreis wrapped the inning before more damage could be done. Bu After Carpenter lined out to open the bottom of the seventh, Taliaferro drew a walk and put the winning run on first. Leonard’s single moved the runner to second before JJ Schneider’s sac bunt moved Taliaferro to third, setting up Ireland’s walk-off hit.
Monson finishes its season with an 11-8 record. This is the Mustangs’ second winning season in a row after reaching a low point following the 2022-2023 season, having finished with an 0-16 record that season and finishing 1-11 the year prior.
“My lone senior, Tyler (Labonte), he was on the mound today and he’s been great for us,” Monson baseball coach Curtis Orlik said. “I’ve had him since (eighth grade and) he’s grown every single year.
“It’s going to be big shoes to fill and my junior class, I’m going to rely on (them), that’s my star-studded class for next year. We weren’t even supposed to be here, we beat No. 6 Hopkins Academy last week and it sucks losing, but it’s good for them to experience a loss like this going into next year… this one’s going to hurt them for a while, which is a good thing to build on.”
