By Russ Waterman
MaxPreps.com
With the regular season winding down over the next three weeks, an unbeaten team has become an endangered species in Massachusetts. But in the Bay State diamond landscape there are still eight out of 352 squads left who can boast of having an unbeaten mark. And they come from all corners of the state. Which of these targets will remain on those lofty perches after this week's competition?
HOPKINTON
Hopkinton, Division III Tri-Valley League leader, soared like a white-hot meteor to No. 8 in the Globe poll last week. They extended their perfect record to 11-0 at the expense of two powerful teams: No. 13 and perennial Division I power St. John's Prep in a shocking 13-7 win, and previously-unbeaten, No. 12 Norton, a TVL rival, 5-4, ascending to take sole possession of first place in the league.
Hopkinton's victory against St. John's featured the hitting of Paul Ostrander who had three hits and scored three runs, a home run by Mark Sanborn and more timely hits by Kelly Cook and Matt Collins. Conor Mahon's relief work earned him the win.
Sandwiched between wins over Holliston and Bellingham was the showdown affair against Norton. The Hillers scored two runs on miscues around the plate, including a passed ball and a wild pitch that sent in the winning run in the seventh. Dan Donohoe had two RBI singles and Collins also had two hit while Bryant Guilmette was the winning pitcher with a seven-hit effort.
The Hillers are slated to play Millis, Medway and Westwood this week.
EAST LONGMEADOW
East Longmeadow (11-0) has relied on superb pitching to keep its unbeaten status intact. Nick Ahmed, Steve Hall and Eric Donermeyer and the rest of the Spartan pitching staff have posted four shutout wins and limited opponents to just one run in three other victories.
Ahmed, an outstanding all-around player and headed to the University of Connecticut on a partial baseball scholarship, has garnered most of the attention. He delivered a perfect game in an 8-0 win over Suburban League rival Belchertown, recording 14 strikeouts after whiffing the first eight batters.
Among the Spartans’ batting leaders have been Colin O'Neil, Ahmed and Mike Ahmed and Jack Ryan.
East Longmeadow faces all non-league competition this week: West Springfield, Minnechaug and Central in its ongoing bid to remain unbeaten. .
CATHEDRAL
With its latest win, 8-4, over Agawam, Cathedral standout outfielder Andrew Siano (who has signed with the University of Hartford) and David DeSimone contributed had two hits apiece for the Panthers, who improved to 10-0 overall.
Other batting leaders thus far for Cathedral include Matt O'Herron (also the team's ace), Chris Alfieri, Dan Fenton and Allyn Mathieson.
The toughest game this week for the Panthers of the Valley League will be second-place league adversary Longmeadow (whom it defeated earlier, 6-2) along with other games against Westfield and Amherst-Pelham Regional.
SMITH ACADEMY
Smith Academy of Hatfield (9-0) and the Tri-County North League has won every one of its games by seven runs or more. The Falcons, coached by Dana Weybrew, had a 19-2 overall record last year and reached the Western Massachusetts Division III quarterfinals and appear to be headed in that direction – or beyond – again.
Among their most important wins was a 9-2 decision over Division II Southwick behind lefty pitcher Tyler Kendrick, who struck out 15 and pitched a six-hitter. The team's consistent hitters have been Mike Hopfenspirger, Luke Wickles, Jack Yarrows and Chris Sulda. Jeff Donnis, a hard-throwing righty, has also been impressive on the mound. Their last win was a 23-13 slugfest over Smith Vo-Tech.
The Falcons' streak and endurance will be tested severely this week with five games scheduled, including four away contests against St. Mary High, Westfield Vo-Tech, Hopkins Academy and McCann Tech, and a home encounter with Sabis International on Friday.
PLYMOUTH NORTH
Among all the larger schools statewide, no team has contained the bats of its opponents quite like Plymouth North, first-place leader in Atlantic Coast North. The Eagles' pitching staff and tight defense has resulted in five shutouts with just 16 runs overall. The Eagles haven’t surrendered more than three runs in any game.
Plymouth North’s most recent victories were against Whitman-Hanson Regional, 13-0, and Sandwich, 13-3, on the strength of a five-hit outing by ace Evan Martinsen, hitting by Joe Flynn and Jared Canney – who both homered – and by Steve McSharry, who had three hits and four RBI.
Plymouth North plays a home contest this week against non-league Falmouth and then takes on two league rivals, Marshfield and then Quincy.
MASCONOMET REGIONAL
The record of the Chieftains is still unmarred despite walking a tightrope in some games, including one-run decisions over North Andover and Triton Regional, and a two-run victory over Pentucket Regional.
Dan Duval, James Riordan and Kyle Shephard have been the mainstay of the Masconomet pitching staff, which has received solid support defensively.
The undefeated Chieftains (10-0) have scored in double digits four times behind a potent offense led by Shephard, Pat Matvichuk, Cam Greeley and sophomore Chris Splinter, who had a three-run homer and five RBI in a 19-1 drubbing of Ipswich earlier.
Their most severe test will be on Tuesday at Frank Carey Field when they face once-beaten North Reading and legendary 41st-year coach Frank Carey, who are in second place in Cape Ann Division I at 8-1 and have been breathing down the necks of the Chieftains all season. The Hornets, who have lost only to Triton Regional, 1-0, have scored 65 runs but allowed only 10 and have been nearly untouchable behind the pitching
exploits of Kevin O'Leary and Brian O'Neil among other hurlers.
WEST BOYLSTON
West Boylston (8-0) is sitting atop the Midland-Wachusett D League despite a few close calls, including a stirring 6-5 comeback over second-place Maynard a few weeks ago. Ryan Milewski and Mike Cleary keyed the victory with RBI doubles, while Steven Fisher cranked out two hits and three RBI.
Other contributors at bat and in the field for the Lions have been Mike Dziczek, Ryan McKernan and Shane Sampson. With their most recent win coming against St Mary's (Worcester), 6-2, West Boylston is scheduled to face third-place Littleton and travel to Bromfield Academy.
O'BRYANT
O'Bryant of Roxbury (9-0) is pounding the opposition in Boston City South and in out-of-league play by compiling 125 runs and allowing just 17. The latest win was its closest, a 6-0 shutout over St. Clement.
Their schedule this week includes a home game against Brighton and a road game at East Boston.
Diamond Notes
* Blaine O'Brien of Scituate has been sensational on the mound. The University of Georgia signee, a 6-foot-7 senior right-hander, has thrown consecutive no-hitters in his last two starts – first against Hull on April 21 while posting 16 strikeouts and then against Norwell on April 30 in an 8-0 decision in which he had 11 more K's. With a record of
4-1, O'Brien now has held teams scoreless for 33 straight innings and has a 0.00 ERA. The Mariners play all road games this week at Pembroke, Silver Lake Regional and at Duxbury.
* Malden Catholic (9-1) has risen not only to the top of the tough Catholic Conference but to No. 1 in eastern Massachusetts. In addition to games this week against league foes Xaverian and Boston College High, the Lancers get to avenge their only loss of the season when they travel to Lowell on Thursday.
* Tewksbury (9-1), which was upset by Methuen in Cooperstown, N.Y., a few weeks ago to fall from the unbeaten ranks, is still ranked No. 2, having recovered since then to win four-straight games, including a 7-0 win over Haverill on a one-hitter by Scott Oberg.
* Playing for St. John's Prep is junior Mike Yastrzemski, the grandson of Red Sox legend and Hall of Famer, Carl Yastrzemski.
