MassLive released its sixth baseball rankings on Wednesday.
Previous Rankings: March 31, April 9, April 16, April 23, April 30
- Pittsfield (11-2, No. 1)
- Pope Francis (9-4, No. 2)
- Westfield (9-3, No. 3)
- Pioneer Valley (12-0, No. 4)
- Taconic (7-6, No. 7)
- Longmeadow (10-4, No. 8)
- West Springfield (8-4, No. 5)
- Springfield Central (9-4, No. 9)
- Minnechaug (5-5, No. 6)
- Belchertown (8-4, No. 15)
- Agawam (7-4, No. 16)
- Ware (12-1, No. 10)
- Frontier (9-5, No. 11)
- Hopkins Academy (9-7, No. 12)
- Drury (11-1, No. 14)
- Hampshire (6-4, No. 17)
- Athol (7-3, No. 19)
- Greenfield (6-6, No. 13)
- Monument Mountain (9-3, NR)
- Westfield Technical Academy (9-1, NR)
Though inclement weather has recently affected the schedule, essential must-see games have remained alive and well in Western Massachusetts.
So let’s start the highlight process, shall we?
With fewer than one month left in the regular season, the Pioneer Valley baseball team has won 12 consecutive games, marking its best start since 2023, when it won its opening 16 games.
However, those Panthers ultimately lost to Hopkins Academy in the Division V state semifinals. Regardless, Pioneer Valley’s seven seniors will attempt to ensure history doesn’t repeat itself.
Those upperclassmen are Alex McClelland, Braeden Tsipenyuk, Jackson Campbell, Ben Werner, Ethan Quinn, Ethan Mauthe, and Jerad Goulston.
The Panthers are scheduled to split their final four regular-season games on the road and at home between Drury, Easthampton, Oakmont, and Franklin Tech.
After last week’s divisional win against Frontier, Pioneer Valley has remained undefeated and ahead of Hopkins Academy and those same Red Hawks. But as of Wednesday, Pioneer Valley is the last undefeated regional team.
Two more of the hottest teams will compete against each other this week, as Belchertown is scheduled to host Agawam on Thursday at 4 p.m.
Following its previous three-game losing streak, the Orioles have since won seven consecutive games, with the final two coming against Pittsfield and Chicopee Comp.
The Brownies, meanwhile, have won three consecutive games by a combined score of 36-0 after Belchertown shut them out last month. Since then, both teams have won 10 straight combined games.
This game is also essential since Belchertown has maintained a narrow lead over Agawam for first place in the Valley Central Standings. This is one of its final three divisional games of the regular season.
Josh Misiaszek leads the Orioles with 13 RBIs, while newcomer Thatcher Rudnik has scored a team-best 16 runs and walked 15 times thus far.
Ian McDonald, meanwhile, has recorded 15 hits and 10 RBIs.
On the pitching side, Misiaszek has posted 31 of Belchertown’s 87 strikeouts through 78 combined innings. Meanwhile, Gavin Shlosser (15) and Vincent Catelotti (15) have combined for 30 of Agawam’s 85 hits thus far.
Since both teams have averaged almost seven runs per game, it will be interesting to see which play could decide the game and division.
Athol bid farewell to its previous three-game losing streak after it lost to Bartlett High School last week. Despite the outcome, the Bears (4-0) remain tied for first place with Franklin Tech (4-0) in the Bi-County North.
The timing couldn’t be better, especially since four of the final six regular-season games are against Turners Falls, Mahar, and twice against the Eagles.
To keep things interesting, Athol’s regular-season finale is at home against Franklin Tech on Friday, May 23, at 5 p.m. So until then, it will be a wait-and-see moment as the final two weeks conclude.
Two new teams also entered the rankings, as Monument Mountain and Westfield Tech joined the fun. And for sound reasoning, since the Spartans have won five of their last six overall against respectable teams like Frontier, Wahconah, and Mount Greylock.
Behind those efforts, Monument Mountain has remained a perfect 7-0 in the Suburban East, as Wahconah has maintained second at 5-2.
It won’t be easy to keep that record moving forward, though, as the Spartans are scheduled to face West Springfield, Pittsfield, and Ware this week alone.
Another team that deserves recognition is the Tigers under first-year coach Matt Boulanger. Less than one month after St. Mary (Westfield) handed Westfield Tech its first season loss, the Tigers have outscored their opponents by 86 combined runs amidst their current six-game winning streak.
Antonio Simpson is an essential reason why. The junior leads Westfield Tech in six offensive categories: runs scored (21), hits (13), RBIs (13), triples (two), walks (16), and stolen bases (21).
And when Simpson isn’t feasting on opposing pitchers, he’s keeping the opposition guessing, especially since he earned his 100th career strikeout last month.
Those efforts have allowed the Tigers to maintain a slight lead over Smith Voc. for first place in the Tri-County North with six regular-season games left. Four games are league matchups, including their next-scheduled road game against the Vikings on Wednesday at 4 p.m.
And since Westfield Tech defeated Smith Voc. last week, this could make or break the Vikings’ chances of winning the division—but only time will tell.
There are multiple games to remember this week.
Drury will host McCann Tech in a rematch of last year’s Western Mass. Class C championship game on Wednesday at 6 p.m., while Pittsfield is scheduled to host in-town rival Taconic on Thursday at 4:30 p.m.
Meanwhile, Ware and Monument Mountain will conclude the weekend with a Mother’s Day battle scheduled in Great Barrington at 11 a.m.
