Extra painful exit for Crusaders
Groton-dunstable baseball team falls in 8 innings
GROTON >> It certainly wasn’t the kind of ending Groton-dunstable coach Matt Leblanc and his baseball team were hoping for.
After holding a 3-0 lead through six innings, the Crusaders were crushed by a Worcester Tech tidal wave, surrendering six runs in the seventh, and two more in extra innings.
Zach Braconnier clubbed a two-run double in the top of the eighth, as 40th seed Worcester Tech capped an improbable 8-6 comeback win over the 25thseeded Crusaders in a Division 3 preliminary round game.
“These kind of losses are heart-wrenching,” said Leblanc. ”You know what’s at stake. We have nine seniors, and they love each other. It’s a tight-knit group. That’s what makes it the hardest. We all know what we’re capable of doing out here and we all know it wasn’t our best day.”
The Crusaders (8-11) appeared in total control for much of the game, taking a 3-0 lead early in the first. Meanwhile, ace pitcher Nate Bushnell held the Tech to just six hits over his first six innings, striking out nine.
And after retiring two of the first three hitters in the seventh, including his 10th punchout, the game looked all but over.
However, Worcester Tech had other ideas as it scratched its way back into the contest, fueled by five consecutive singles, including a pair that ate up Groton-dunstable’s infielders, while chasing the Crusaders starter from the game. Jace Benitez capped the rally by ripping a two-run double, giving Worcester Tech the 6-3 lead.
“I think Worcester Tech did a good job putting the ball in play, even when they got into twostrike scenarios,” said Leblanc. “They seemed to find holes or put us in a position that put a lot of pressure on ourselves. We left plays out there defensively that we were probably capable of making, and just didn’t come up with them.”
“If we were a little bit cleaner defensively, not to take anything away from the way Worcester Tech executed,” he added. “But I think that ultimately a defensive play could have ended that rally.”
Groton-dunstable regrouped in the bottom of the frame, plating three more runs. Jarrett Arsenault
laced a two-run double, knotting the game up at 6-6, sending it into extra sessions.
But once again, Worcester Tech came up clutch. Braconnier blasted a two-out, two-run double in the eighth, putting them ahead to stay.
Worcester Tech closer Anthony Mccoulfh followed, retiring the Groton-dunstable side in order in the bottom of the eighth to complete the comeback.
“It’s awesome the way these
kids fought,” said Worcester Tech coach Vinnie Pennell. “It was unbelievable. They deserved this game the way they came back in the seventh. They didn’t quit.”
Groton-dunstable came out swinging in the top of the first, plating three runs. Liam Richard, Bushnell and Graeme White all scored off hits from Andrew Raymond, Alex Hillenberg and Chris Pincott, giving the Crusaders the 3-0 edge, a lead which
lasted for six frames.
Although disappointed with the outcome, Leblanc couldn’t be prouder of his club.
“It was an absolute honor to be out here with the kids every day,” said Leblanc. “I wish that we could have gone a little bit further. I look forward to moving forward with all the upperclassman that we have, building on the legacy and hard work that these seniors gave us all these years.”