BHS Nine Downs Clinton, Bows to Abington in Tourney

Tourney Roundup

By KEN HAMWEY, 

Staff Sports Writer

There was good news and bad news for Bellingham High’s baseball team in the Division 4 state tournament.

First the good news. 

Coach Andy Nolan’s squad relied on Ryan Maiorano’s no-hit pitching, and three home runs by three underclassmen to defeat Clinton, 11-2, in the opening round of the playoffs.

Maiorano, who already has committed to Fairfield University, breezed through the first six innings but tired in the final stanza. Clinton scored its two runs on a pair of walks, a hit batter, a wild pitch and a passed ball. Maiorano struck out 16.

A junior, Maiorano helped his cause by slamming a three-run homer in the third inning. The Blackhawks’ Tyler Ladouceur, a sophomore, hit a homer in the first inning and freshman John Sullivan whacked a two-run shot to left field in the sixth. 

The no-hitter was Maiorano’s second of the season, and it paved the way for the Blackhawks to advance to the second round against Abington.

“I threw a no-hitter in our first game of the season against Northbridge,’’ said Maiorano, “but this one is my top thrills because it came in the playoffs.’’

Bellingham’s 11 RBIs came from five players — 3 by Maiorano, 3 from Ladouceur, 2 from Sullivan, 2 from Ross Priscella and one from Corey Perkins.

“We got great pitching and plenty of power today,’’ said Nolan. “Pitching is our top strength, but our team chemistry is also a big key.’’

The Blackhawks are a young squad, comprised of one senior, 5 juniors, 9 sophomores  and one freshman. Besides Maiorano, other starters include Alex Hughes, Ladouceur and Troy Simpson. CJ Fama and Jack Hildred provide solid efforts in relief.

Now the bad news.

Abington scored a run in the seventh inning, breaking a 2-2 tie and ousting Bellingham from the tourney. The Blackhawks left eight runners on base and squandered scoring chances in three innings.

Abington loaded the bases in the seventh without the ball leaving the infield. An error and two bunts, one of which was bobbled, filled the bases. Pitcher Jack Hildred, who had replaced Hughes in the fifth inning, struck out Ryan Tobin but Aiden O’Donnell hit a grounder to second and the throw to the plate was late. Fama came in for Hildred and retired Stephen Madden and Spencer Merrick.

The Blackhawks, who had runners on first and second in their half of the seventh, failed to score, losing, 3-2, and bowing out of the playoffs with a 10-12 overall record.

Nolan said after the loss that “we let this one get away. We left eight runners on base, and in the second inning, we had runners on first and third and didn’t score,’’ he continued. “We pitched well enough to win but we didn’t execute on offense and didn’t cash in while they cleaned up their defensive lapses.’’ 

The Blackhawks also stranded two runners in the sixth and seventh innings.

Bellingham’s three pitchers were all sophomores and they combined for 11 strikeouts and only one walk. “Our strikeout to walk ratio for the year was 186 strikeouts to 74 walks,’’ Nolan mentioned. “We’ve got most all of our players back for next year. We should have a great nucleus and we’ll be better and wiser.’’

The Blackhawks had three players named to the TVL all-star team. Maiorano was chosen Pitcher of the Year in the Small Division and Ladouceur and Nolan were honorable-mention choices.

BOYS’ LACROSSE

The boys’ lacrosse team, which ended its regular season with a 4-14 record, qualified for the state tourney, but its stay was short-lived, as the Blackhawks lost to Nantucket, 16-2, in the first round. Nantucket was seeded No. 8 in Division 4 and Bellingham was seeded 25th.  

The Blackhawks’ goals were scored by Connor Henchey and Harry Gearhart.

“Nantucket definitely was the better team,’’ said coach Steve Linehan. “The loss was disappointing, but in spite of it, the tourney atmosphere was a plus for the players and the program. It’s a milestone. It helps the kids buy into the program, and it’s all about the boys getting tourney-level experience.’’

Linehan was pleased that Henchey and Gearhart tallied goals. “Connor’s goal was his 39th of the season and he finishes as the No. 2 scorer in the program,’’ Linehan noted. “Harry has been in the program for three years and was playing in his first varsity game. He’ll return next year, but it was nice to see him get his first goal.’’

Bellingham’s appearance in the playoffs was its second in the 12-year history of the program, and it was the Blackhawks first berth during Linehan’s six years at the helm.

Linehan sees a bright future, especially next season, when he’ll have nine varsity returnees and only one will be a senior.

“Three freshmen and three sophomores started for us this year,’’ he emphasized. “When I became the coach in 2017, 90% of the kids at the varsity level had no prior experience. Now, 99% of the players have lacrosse experience. The youth program is 10 years old now and there’s a solid group of volunteers that direct the program.’’

Linehan, who played midfield for four years at St. Michael’s College in Vermont, is starting to see positive signs in his sixth year.

“Some things needed to change when I took the reins,’’ he said. “Attitudes changed, we needed to be competitive in the Tri Valley League, and we stressed accountability. We’re now seeing the improvements of a team-first philosophy. Going forward, a tourney berth is the expectation for the program.’’

Linehan’s team motto is: “Our habits have to be greater than or equal to our goals.’’ That translates to mastering the fundamentals.

This year’s team won four games and three of those triumphs came against Division 2 squads — two victories over Milford and a win against Auburn. The other triumph was against Division 4 Seekonk. Two of the Blackhawks losses were heartbreakers. One was an 11-10 loss to Hopkinton in overtime and an 8-7 setback against Ashland.

The BHS captains were all multi-sport athletes who provided quality leadership. They included Henchey (midfielder), Mark Imparato (goalie) and Sean Edwards (defense), and junior attack Liam Keating. Henchey was a TVL all-star, only the third in the program’s history.

“I’m encouraged by the way we took a step forward this year,’’ Linehan said. “We showed we can be competitive in the TVL and get to the playoffs. And, even though the travelling to Nantucket was lengthy, the boys got the experience of tourney play and going to the island.’’

BOYS’ VOLLEYBALL

The boys’ volleyball team, which compiled a winning record (10-9) during the regular season, was eliminated in the opening round of the state tourney. Coach Steve Mantegani’s Blackhawks lost, 3-0, to Holyoke by scores of 25-14, 25-15 and 25-19. 

The boys’ program, which was in its third competitive season, qualified for the playoffs for the first time. And, although Mantegani was proud of the plus-.500 record and the tourney berth, he could sense his forces were a bit anxious in their tourney debut.

“We got off to a slow start against a good Holyoke squad,’’ he said. “We made some mistakes in the first game, but we started to jell after that. We went up, 10-6 in the third game and played with confidence. Overall, we could have played better but our team showed courage.’’

Mantegani, whose first year at the helm ended with a winless record (0-18), guided the boys to a 2-12 season last year and to a winning mark during the spring campaign. Next year should be positive because there’ll be 10 returnees (2 freshmen, one sophomore, one junior and 6 seniors).

“This year’s goal was to qualify for the tourney,’’ he said. “Now, we want to build on that tradition. We don’t want to miss any more playoff appearance going forward.’’

Holyoke was the 15th seed and Bellingham was seeded 18th.

“Captains Grant Wojick (setter) and Zachary Mantegani (right-side hitter) kept us focused against Holyoke,’’ the coach said. “They played with composure and provided great leadership.’’

Mantegani, who also is the girls’ volleyball coach, has built that team into a very competitive group. The girls have been to the playoffs four times in five years.