Sometimes the stats just don’t add up.
Southwick-Tolland Regional senior pitcher Tommy Mahoney struck out 13 batters and had a no-hitter through seven complete innings in a Western Massachusetts Division II quarterfinal game against South Hadley yesterday.
Southwick put 15 runners on base, including loading the bases in the top of the eighth. But the Rams came up empty and South Hadley punched through the game-winning run in the bottom of the eighth for a 1-0 victory.
South Hadley pinch runner Ryan Piquette, who was inserted when Joe Ciolek led off the eighth with a base hit, advanced to second on Luis Agrait’s sac-bunt, moved to third on Mike Paleologopoulos’s single, and scored on a Connor Sheridan grounder. Southwick shortstop Vinny Fortini scooped up the ground ball, and fired to home plate to catcher Joe Kucienski. Kucienski applied the tag to the hard-charging baserunner, but the ball fell to the ground and Piquette was safe.
“You can’t really do much about it – it’s baseball,” said Mahoney. “It just sucks that we had to go out this way.”
Southwick had numerous opportunities to score. The Rams had baserunners on in every inning, and at least two on in six of those innings. But South Hadley ended nearly every threat with a diving grab to rob the opposition.
Southwick also hit into four inning-ending double plays. The Rams loaded the bases in the eighth, but hit into a ground out.
“We had a lot of hard hit balls, but they made some good defensive plays,” Southwick coach Tim Karetka said. “They fielded the ball well. We had a ton of baserunners. Unfortunately, those balls didn’t get through.”
Mahoney earned the praise of his head coach.
“Tommy Mahoney was absolutely phenomenal against a quality team like South Hadley,” Karetka said.
Mahoney credited his coach with his progression, and said he would not have changed a thing about his teammates.
“I loved playing for Tim (Karetka),” the senior southpaw explained. “He was one of the most inspirational people in my life since freshman year. I loved my team. It just would have been nice to come out with a championship.
It was the final high school game for Mahoney, who plans to play baseball for Western New England College next season, and seniors Kucienski, Brandon Tenerowicz, and Ben Phelps.
