No. 1 Pope Francis (2), No. 4 Westfield (0)
Both previous seasonal meetings between No. 1 Pope Francis baseball and No. 4 Westfield have been decided by three runs or less.
And Thursday’s Western Massachusetts Class A semifinals matchup was no different, as the Cardinals earned a 2-0 win for their fifth shutout this season.
The Bombers won’t defend their sectional championship, as they moved to 11-6. Pope Francis, meanwhile, won for the fifth time in six games and will now face No. 3 West Springfield at Springfield College on Tuesday at 4 p.m.
No. 3 West Springfield (3), No. 2 Springfield Central (0)
Behind seven shutout innings from Chris Torres, featuring seven strikeouts, the No. 3 West Springfield baseball team defeated No. 2 Central 3-0 in the Western Massachusetts Class A semifinals on Thursday evening.
Owen Hall (2-for-4) and Nik Dwyer (1-for-1) paced the offense with three combined hits and two RBIs, while Phillip Curran (1-for-3) recorded a run-scoring single as the Terriers improved to 13-7.
Sal Ortiz allowed two unearned runs while striking out seven in five innings of work as the Golden Eagles (16-2) suffered their second-season loss. Javier Lopez, for his part, allowed one earned run and struck out two during two innings of relief.
The home team only recorded four hits.
Following a two-run second inning, West Springfield added an insurance run during the sixth to seal the victory. The Terriers will now face No. 1 Pope Francis in the sectional championship at Springfield College on Tuesday at 4 p.m.
No. 1 Taconic (5), No. 5 Wahconah (0)
Stats can be sent to sports@masslive.com
No. 3 Monument Mountain (12), No. 7 Hampshire (5)
Drew Thompson cut No. 7 Hampshire baseball’s deficit to one with a three-run home run. But it wasn’t enough, as Jayder Raifstanger countered with a grand slam to seal No. 3 Monument Mountain a 12-5 win during Thursday’s Western Massachusetts Class B semifinals.
The Spartans improved to 15-3 and will now face five-time reigning champion Taconic in the sectional finals on Tuesday from Westfield State University at 4:30 p.m.
Zach Phakos and Colin Hogan recorded an RBI as the Raiders moved to 15-5.
No. 1 Smith Vocational (14), No. 5 Lenox (4)
The top-seeded Smith Vocational baseball team’s memorable season will continue, as they defeated No. 5 Lenox 14-4 during the Western Massachusetts Class C semifinals on Thursday evening.
Marshall Ingram allowed two runs (one earned) while striking out four during five innings of work for the Vikings. The senior also recorded three doubles, one triple and drove in two from the plate. Caelan Finnie (2-for-3) and Pat Millin (1-for-4) recorded three RBIs each.
Max Shepardson (2-for-2), Brendan Armstrong (1-for-2), and Robbie Bazinet (1-for-3) combined for all four of the Millionaires hits, while Jason Sibley (one) and Bazinet (one) had one RBI each as they moved to 11-6.
Despite Lenox taking an early two-run lead, Smith Voc. countered with nine combined runs during the first, third, and fourth innings to take control for good.
The Vikings will face No. 3 Frontier in the sectional championship at Greenfield’s Veterans Memorial Field on Tuesday at 4 p.m.
No. 3 Frontier (6), No. 7 Pathfinder (1)
During Thursday’s Western Massachusetts Class C semifinals, the No. 3 Frontier baseball team defeated visiting No. 7 Pathfinder 6-1.
Following three-plus scoreless innings, the Red Hawks changed that with a four-run fourth inning. The home team added multiple insurance runs during the sixth to seal the victory.
Tim Russell (2-for-3) and Austin Lagimoniere (1-for-3) recorded all three of the Pioneers’ hits while starting pitcher Trever Millet allowed four earned runs, three walks and struck out one during 3.1 innings of work. Russell, meanwhile, allowed five hits, two earned runs, and two walks in the remaining 2.2 innings of relief.
Frontier improved to 13-6 and will now face top-seeded Smith Voc. in the sectional finals at Greenfield’s Veterans Memorial Field on Tuesday at 4 p.m.
No. 1 Pioneer Valley (3), No. 5 Granby (0)
Stats can be reported to sports@masslive.com
No. 3 Ware (15), No. 2 Hopkins Academy (11)
Stats can be reported to sports@masslive.com