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The Winchester High School baseball team (7-2) is off to a great start, and when they lose a game, they follow it up with consecutive wins, the latest against Woburn and Lexington last week.
“I’m proud of how we have been able to handle the mental grind of so many games in the early going – (like) five in seven days just two weeks ago,” Coach Ed McDonald said. “We have had great starting pitching with not a lot of walks, solid defense and timely hits. Everyone in our lineup has contributed to the early success.”
And combined the schedule with overcoming the cold temperatures and constantly rainy weather, the Red & Black are ready to move forward with a tailwind of early season positive momentum on their side.
After losing to Peabody on April 14, 7-6, the Red & Black smoked Woburn on Tax Day, 16-6, before tripping up Lexington, 5-1 on April 16 to go into spring school vacation week looking good and loving life.
The visiting Tanners from Peabody jumped out to a 5-0 lead, but the Winchester boys tied it with two in the second and three in the third. They then took a 6-5 lead in the home half of the fourth, only to see Peabody come through with a run in both the fifth and sixth innings to secure the close win.
Harrison Burbine went the first four innings on the mound for Winchester, giving up five hits, six runs (1 earned) and three walks. He fanned three. Stephen McCabe pitched the final three, and allowed four hits and one unearned run. He whiffed two.
The Winchester offense collected eight hits. Brett Daniels hit a solo shot, and also singled in another run to help lead the way. Brendan Bock had two hits, including a triple and one RBI. Leadoff batter Connor Pandolph was credited with a double. Designated hitter Ronan O’Connell singled in two runs. Junior Owen Penicaud singled in a run. His sophomore brother Nick also picked up a single.
Against visiting Woburn, the home team led, 2-0 after two. But these Tanners scored six times in the third to take the lead, only to lose that advantage rather dramatically in the home half, when the Red & Black came up with 10 more runs to go up 12-6. They scored their final four runs in the fifth to invoke the mercy rule.
Adam Fiorentino (2 hits, 5 RBI, 2 walks, 3 runs) and Alex Casey (2 hits, 1 walk, 4 RBI) belted homeruns to power the offensive attack. Noah Seitz (1 RBI) and Pandolph (2 hits, 1 walk, 2 runs) each doubled once. Daniels accounted for two singles and two RBI. Nick Penicaud contributed a single, two walks and two RBI to the winning cause, while also scoring twice. Seitz singled in a run. Bock had two hits, one walk and one RBI. He also scored two runs. The Winchester offense altogether banged out 13 hits.
Owen Penicaud (7 hits, 2 walks, 6 earned runs, 1 strikeout) pitched the first three innings against Woburn. Fiorentino (3 hits, 3 strikeouts) went the final two.
The Red & Black then took the show on the road, where they defeated host Lexington in a relatively close battle.
Nick Penicaud went the distance on the mound going all seven innings. He issued just three hits, and was credited with no walks and no earned run, while striking out 13 in a masterful performance.
“Nick has been one of our top pitchers this year, and has also contributed a few big hits, including the game-winner against Melrose on April 9,” said McDonald.
McDonald also praised Nick’s brother Owen for his pitching prowess.
“Owen has also been great on the mound for us,” he said. “We have had a lot of games in a short period of time, and he too stepped up when we needed him the most.”
The Red & Black produced eight hits, led by O’Connell, who had a double – the team’s lone extra base hit in this game – to go along with a single and one RBI. Fiorentino singled twice with one RBI. Nolan Gannon and Bock each singled twice, as well. Casey knocked in a run with a sacrifice fly.
The Winchester boys will get back to work April 23, when they head to Lowell’s LeLacheur Park to face rival Reading, starting at 7 p.m. They will be back at Ciarcia Field Friday morning (April 25) to go up against visiting Belmont at 10 a.m.
