The Hopkinton Hillers will challenge the Xaverian Brothers Hawks at 4:00 p.m. on Thursday. Each of these teams will be fighting to keep a win streak alive as Hopkinton comes in on three and Xaverian Brothers on four.
On Wednesday, Hopkinton needed a bit of extra time to put away Norton. They sure made it a nail-biter, but they managed to escape with a 7-6 win over the Lancers. For those keeping track at home, that's the closest victory the Hillers have posted against the Lancers since May 2, 2018.
Travis Rych and Dylan Ruff did most of the damage at the plate: Rych scored two runs and stole two bases while going 1-for-3, while Ruff went 2-for-4 with one triple, one run, and one double. That triple was Ruff's first of the season. Another player making a difference was Nick Pedroli, who scored a run while going 2-for-4.
They weren't the only one making solid contact: Hopkinton kept the outfield on their toes and finished the game with 12 hits. The team's really been improving in that area: they've now improved their hit total in three consecutive matches.
Meanwhile, Xaverian Brothers faced St. John's in a battle between two of the state's top teams on Wednesday. The Hawks won by a run and slipped past the Pioneers 2-1. The two-run effort marked the Hawks' lowest-scoring game of the season, but in the end it didn't matter.
Paul McCarthy tossed a big game, not allowing a single earned run while striking out seven over five innings pitched. He has been consistent recently: he hasn't given up more than two walks in three consecutive appearances.
At the plate, Xaverian Brothers' win was truly a team effort as four different players contributed at least one hit. One of them was Nolan Rappoli, who went a perfect 3-for-3 with one stolen base. Those three hits gave Rappoli a new career-high.
Xaverian Brothers' victory bumped their record up to 6-1. As for Hopkinton, their win bumped their record up to 5-2.
The pitchers for both teams better look sharp on Thursday as neither team is afraid to steal. Hopkinton has been swiping bases left and right this season, having averaged 3.9 stolen bases per game. However, it's not like Xaverian Brothers struggles in that department as they've been averaging 5.4 stolen bases. The only question left is which team can snag more.
Hopkinton came up short against Xaverian Brothers in their previous matchup back in April of 2024, falling 4-1. Will the Hillers have more luck at home instead of on the road? Check MaxPreps after the action for a full breakdown of the game and more baseball content.
