WESTFIELD – If one stopped to watch the St. Mary Saints baseball team practicing on the local diamond Wednesday, you would never that they were about to embark on one of the biggest games of their lives.
“It’s just another day on the baseball field, doing what we normally do,” said St. Mary’s head coach Troy Collins, who took a few moments from practice for a one-on-one interview with The Westfield News. “We have a very, very talented group. … They’re excited but continuing to work like they always do.”
St. Mary’s (22-2) won the Western Massachusetts Division 4 baseball title a week ago with a 3-2 win over Granby, and followed that up with a 4-0 shutout of Central Mass champ Tahonto Tuesday night. The Saints advanced to play Southern champion Archbishop Williams (20-5) in the championship game Saturday at Holy Cross at 6:30 p.m.
St. Mary head coach Troy Collins gives a congratulatory hug to assistant coach Sam Farnsworth after the Saints defeated the Tahonto Stags 4-0 Tuesday at Tivnan Field in Worcester to advance to the Division 4 baseball championship game. Collins and Farnsworth are looking forward to a very special day Saturday. (Photo by Bill Deren)
“(Archbishop Williams) is a solid junior-senior team that played in a tough league against teams in a higher division,” coach Collins said. “They will be prepared, but … I’m sure they’re not anything much better than we’ve seen all year long. If we go and do what we do, we will be fine. I’m hoping we will see a lot of Westfield people there. It’s going to be a special day.”
Saturday figures to be a special day in more ways than one for the head coach, and several other Saints.
Troy’s son, Anthony, a member of the 2009 Western Mass championship squad is getting married Saturday morning.
“They picked the date two years ago, and have been planning this for two years,” coach Collins said. “You can’t make this stuff up. It’s going to be a special day for them, for both families, and to cap it off by going to play in the state (championship) game is very special.”
What now seems like a dream come true for the father and head coach easily could have been a nightmare. The game was originally slated to be played at noon – right around the same time that Troy, first baseman Drew Collins (Troy’s nephew), assistant coaches Sean Pierce and Sam Farnsworth, and his brother Shane are supposed to be in Connecticut for Anthony’s wedding.
“We really would’ve been shorthanded,” coach Collins said.
Instead, Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association officials swapped St. Mary out of the noon time spot, giving them the premiere time slot Saturday night at 6:30.
“It’s nice to know there are still good people out there,” said coach Collins, thanking the MIAA. “We can’t wait for the wedding. To be able to do this after is going to be extra special.”
All that is left for St. Mary’s to do is take care of business on the ball field against Archbishop Williams. For alumni and local baseball fans, that would really ring just as loud as those wedding bells.
THE PLAYERS
#1 Jack Lamirande 2b, Fr
#2 Nate Bonini P, 3b, Jr
#3 Quinn Powers Lf, 3b, Jr
#4 Matt Masciadrelli SS, Jr
#5 Hayden Lussier Inf, Fr
#6 Drew Collins 1b, Sr
#7 Shaun Gezotis RF, Sr
#9 Jack Masciadrelli OF, Fr
#11 Jake Butler CF, Jr
#12 Paul Shibley OF, Fr
#13 Kevin Rockwal OF, P, Jr
#14 Gio DePergola OF, Sr
#15 Hunter Authier C, Jr
#16 John Daley P, DH, Sr
#17 Luke Bonini 2b, 8th
#18 Andrew Illniki 1b, Sr
#19 Aidan Burke C, Fr
#21 Niko Kapsanis OF, Fr
#22 Carter Yang OF, Sr
THE COACHES
Head Coach Troy Collins
Assist Coach Sean Pierce
Assist Coach Bill Lamirande
Assist Coach Dan Lucia
Assist Coach Sam Farnsworth
Assist Coach Alex King
