SPRINGFIELD – Frankie Torres recorded eight strikeouts in a complete-game effort to lead No. 8 Springfield Central past No. 6 Longmeadow, 7-2, on Monday night.
“The team knocked down balls and played well,” Torres said. “I think we have the best defense in Western Massachusetts and best defensive catcher (Eliam Martinez-Rosario) because he shot down two guys.
“And our bats were alive today, so there was nothing more you could have asked from these guys.”
Josiah Zayas (two), Nathan Pok (one), and Martinez-Rosario (one) drove in four of their team’s seven runs to ensure the Golden Eagles improved to 11-4.
However, it was more than just a regular-season win, as Springfield Central (7-1) clinched the Valley East crown over Longmeadow (5-3) with the outcome.
As the players and coaches celebrated their accomplishment in left field, the Golden Eagles made one thing clear:
“We’re not done yet!”
“Winning one pitch at a time has been our focus,” said first-year Springfield Central coach Pedro Santiago. “We’re not done yet because this is just another game.
“The best part about this game is that it’s over and we’re onto the next.”
Despite a solo home run from Brody Harrington (1-for-3) with two outs in the top of the seventh inning, Longmeadow moved to 11-6. Griffin Gauthier (1-for-3) earned a run-scoring hit in a losing effort.
Despite the outcome, Lancers coach Ryan Blain remained proud of his team’s effort.
“Springfield Central is a good team, and they played a great game today,” he said. “We battled hard all year, so to put ourselves in a position to win the league, possibly, is a great privilege.
“But even though we came up short tonight, that won’t discourage us.”
Moments after Longmeadow stranded Jayden Leveille at third base to begin the first inning, the Golden Eagles’ offense countered as Gabriel Miranda scorched a leadoff single down the right-field line in the bottom half.
However, the sophomore didn’t stay there long, as he used smart base running to reach third base. And that proved essential since Miranda scored the game’s first run on a wild pitch from Lancers starting pitcher Derek Steinberg to move the home team ahead 1-0 through one inning.
Steinberg allowed one hit, two runs (one earned), three walks, and struck out four before he was replaced by Brayden Koegel to start the third inning.
“It was essential to start the game off like that, especially when we scored the game’s first run on a wild pitch,” Torres said. “So as long as we kept the ball in play, we knew Longmeadow would have to make the play.
“And if they don’t, we’ll just take the free runs.”
Since Longmeadow defeated Springfield Central by one run during its previous game last month, Torres preserved this lead as the junior retired the Lancers’ offense in order during the second and third innings.
That proved vital, as Torres and Pok earned back-to-back one-out walks during bottom three. Jaliel Rodriguez then earned a sacrifice fly to right field to ensure the Golden Eagles had runners on the corners.
Moments after Pok stole second base, Zayas located a two-run single between third base and shortstop with two outs to extend Springfield Central’s cushion to 4-0 through three innings of action.
Longmeadow’s offense wasn’t denied, though, as Charles MacElhiney earned a one-out walk and then moved into scoring position upon a wild pitch as Chester Bouchard approached the plate.
Bouchard didn’t fare well in his first appearance, as the junior failed to connect on three consecutive fastballs. None of that mattered, though, as Bouchard took a 2-2 fastball to the right-field fence for an impressive opposite-field double.
With multiple runners in scoring position, Gauthier recorded a bloop single to center field to score MacElhiney and cut their team’s deficit to 4-1 entering the bottom of the fourth.
It wasn’t enough, though, as the Golden Eagles scored three combined runs during the bottom of the fifth inning to emerge victorious. The frame consisted of a leadoff solo home run from Martinez-Rosario and multiple run-scoring singles against the Lancers’ second relief pitcher, Luke Costello.
Costello allowed four hits, two earned runs, three walks, and struck out two in two innings of action. Longmeadow’s pitching staff allowed six combined hits, five earned runs, and struck out seven as they combined for 129 pitches over six innings.
“We were well-rested, and we went with three solid pitchers,” Blain said. “I think they pitched well, but Springfield Central is just a good hitting team that put the ball into play and capitalized on some mistakes.”
Springfield Central will look to earn its fifth consecutive win as it begins a two-game, out-of-region road trip, starting in New Bedford on Tuesday at 3 p.m.
Longmeadow, meanwhile, will attempt to bounce back on the road for its regular-season finale against Shrewsbury on Saturday morning at 10 a.m.
“We’re just trying to move forward and prepare for Shrewsbury on Saturday,” Blain said. “And then, we’ll prepare for the playoffs.”
