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After the Winchester High School baseball team (14-8, 32nd seed) defeated the Beverly Panthers (12-8, 33rd seed) in a Division 1 preliminary round game at home May 30, 6-4, second-year head coach Ed McDonald said that was a huge win for the program.
Certainly not playing like a team that wants its season to end any time soon, the Red & Black then showed no fear going up against perennial postseason powerhouse Taunton, the home team, in the Round of 32 three nights later, where they won again by the exact same 6-4 score.
The team is now prepping to take on host Natick (13-8, 17th seed) in the Sweet 16 game Thursday night (June 5) at 7 p.m. The Red Hawks, who play in the Bay State Conference during the regular season, shutout Pope Francis (15-6, 16th seed), 4-0 in their Round of 32 game.
Against Taunton (16-7), the deuces were wild for the Winchester boys in the third, fifth and seventh innings. The Tigers scored one in the third, and three in the fifth to tie up the game at four apiece. But the visitors’ last two runs in the seventh clinched the upset win against a team that has won the state title three out of the last five years, didn’t get eliminated until the Round of 16 last year and was the top seed going into this year’s state tournament.
“This was a statement game for the program,” said McDonald. “We now believe we can compete with anyone in the state.”
Senior captain Alex Casey led in every possible way against Taunton to catapult his teammates to their second postseason win. Casey went 6.2-innings on the mound to pick up the win. He allowed seven hits, three walks and four earned runs, while striking out seven. Steve McCabe relieved him with one out to go in the game to secure the save.
“Alex (Casey) pitched the game of his life against Taunton,” said McDonald. “He competed in every inning, and was able to overcome adversity in the middle of the game to keep us in it throughout. He’s our captain for a reason, and proved it once again with this performance.”
Winchester outhit Taunton, 11-7, and Brett Daniels and Brendan Bock powered the attack with one triple apiece. Daniels also singled twice, and knocked in two and scored two. Bock reached base one other time with a walk. Designated hitter Nolan Gannon did his part to keep the offense going with two singles and two RBI, and also walked once.
Catcher Ronan O’Connell singled in a run, along with sophomore Nick Penicaud. Casey also helped his own cause at the plate with two singles, and ended up crossing the plate once to account for another Winchester run. Third baseman Noah Seitz collected a single and a walk, and scored once.
McDonald praised the play of Gannon, his junior DH and outfielder, calling him the team’s sparkplug.
“(Gannon) is the ultimate team-first kid,” said McDonald. “He began the year in the starting lineup. He got that opportunity, and ran with it. He played so well that we couldn’t take him out of the starting lineup. His second clutch two-run single in this game ended up beating Taunton. It was a high-pressure situation, and he came through (with positive results). He also had a similar moment during the regular season with the game on the line.”
McDonald mentioned the difference in this game was his team’s ability to capitalize on some of Taunton’s mistakes with timely hitting. He also credits the bottom of the order for getting on base consistently.
Penicaud will start the game on the mound against Natick.
“He’s been our horse all year long, and we have full faith in him to come through, once again,” said McDonald.
The Winchester coach has a simple explanation for all of this success.
“They play for each other, and their motto is 'We, not me,'” McDonald said. “There’s a full buy-in right now throughout the entire roster.”
