Gateway Regional’s Brett Turban receives congratulations from teammates after scoring. (Photo by Chris Putz)
HUNTINGTON – The Gateway Regional High School baseball team last played in a Western Massachusetts tournament semifinal game four years ago. It has been nearly a decade since the Gators have won a WMass title.
On Wednesday, they will have the opportunity to take the next step in accomplishing both again.
No. 2 Gateway held off 10th seeded Lee in a WMass D4 baseball quarterfinal 6-2 Monday at home. The Gators advance to take on No. 3 Hopkins (11-9) at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst, beginning at 4 p.m.
“We hadn’t been hitting; we hadn’t been pitching,” Gateway coach Gary St. Peter said. “I told our guys the ball’s in their court, that they can make something special for this team.’”
Curtis Dowers pitched a three-hitter and struck out four batters to earn the victory. Dowers shook off eight walks, and allowed just two earned runs.
Josh Baillargeon, who pitched just two innings all season, closed out the game with one big inning of relief.
“It was a gut decision,” St. Peter said of his decision to close with Baillargeon. “It was great for him to come through for us.”
Several players delivered for Gateway – Johnny Haskell (2 RBI doubles), Brett Turban (2-for-2, 2 runs, RBI, suicide squeeze), Willis Pollard (double, RBI, run), and Ethan Gamble (hit, RBI).
“Our 5-7-8-9 hitters did damage,” St. Peter said. “That’s just how the ball goes sometimes.”
Gateway catcher Justin Edinger threw out two would-be base stealers.
Southwick-Tolland Regional High School baseball coach Tim Karetka takes a trip to the mound to attempt to rally the troops in Monday’s Western Massachusetts Division 3 quarterfinal game against visiting Greenfield. (Photo by Chris Putz)
Greenfield stuns Southwick
WMASS D3 BASEBALL QUARTERFINAL
No. 6 Greenfield 5, No. 3 Southwick-Tolland 3
SOUTHWICK – Greenfield rallied from a 3-0, fifth-inning deficit to stun the host Southwick Rams. The visitors scored two runs on no hits in the fifth, and added some base knocks after to complete the rally.
“We just kind of fell apart,” Southwick coach Tim Karetka said. “We made a couple of uncharacteristic errors … It was a just a tough, tough loss for us.”
Jake Goodreau (2-for-3, 2 RBIs), Vinny Fortini (2-3), and Nick Masarelli (1-2, RBI) had the lone hits for Southwick (16-3).
“All we had was five hits – that is not going to get it done in the tournament,” Karetka said. “We had a great regular season. Unfortunately we didn’t make the plays we needed to.”
