Dubie Two-Hitter Lifts Drury Past Wahconah
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. -- Sophomore pitcher Ryan Dubie got the win with a two-hit performance against Wahconah on Saturday morning at Joe Wolfe Field.
But in a sense, this was a good old-fashioned catcher's duel between Drury senior Kody Crosier and Wahconah senior Matt Schneider.
"I have to give credit where credit is due to Kody Crosier back there calling that game, keeping a young pitcher composed," Drury coach Pat Boulger said after the Blue Devils improved to 2-0 with a 3-1 win. "Kody Crosier did a helluva job - in both our games, with Connor Clark, who is a sophomore, and with Ryan Dubie, who is a sophomore -- to take those two guys and keep them composed and keep them under control in a situation like that, a big game, a rivalry game ...
"That's why I believe he's one of the best catchers in Berkshire County. And the other one is in the other dugout. Matt Schneider is a nice young man, he's a great catcher. It was a great pleasure to se those two go back and forth today."
Schneider handled two Wahconah pitchers who scattered eight hits and struck out four. The three runs allowed were enough to get the win most days, but not the way Dubie was dealing.
The Drury sophomore was perfect through the first three innings, allowing his offense to provide a 3-0 lead.
In the fourth, Ty Cowdrey earned a one-out walk for Wahconah (1-1), but Dubie got a groundball and a fly ball to right to retire the side.
Will Genaway started the fifth with a hard shot up the middle, but Dubie gloved it and threw to first for the first of three straight 1-3 putouts to end the inning.
Another one-out walk -- this one to Shane Sinopoli -- came in the sixth. Sinopoli stole second and got to third on a groundout before Dubie stranded him there with a fly ball to take a no-hitter into the seventh.
He got the first out on the first pitch, another fly ball to right fielder Zach Yeaton. But Schneider ruined the no-hit bid with a single down the left field line.
Schneider went to third on Genaway's double to right, bringing Boulger out of the dugout for a mound visit.
"It was like [the runners] didn't exist," Boulger said of his message for the sophomore right-hander. "I wanted him to focus on the batter. They were getting some good swings."
"[Dubie] was around the plate all day," Boulger said. "The ball was moving. He had some good movement on there. And Ryan is a kid who just kind of goes out there - there's very little expression, very little emotion. He just kept them off balance. I think he spotted beautifully well today."
Dubie also drove in the go-ahead run in the bottom of the first.
After Crosier led off the inning with a single and Clark's double to left put two in scoring position, Wahconah starter Austin Cancilla struck out Logan Rumbolt and issued an intentional free pass to Thaylen Harrison to load the bases.
Dubie delivered a sacrifice fly to left to bring home Crosier and make it 1-0.
In the third, Clark got things started with a one-out single before Rumbolt drove a triple to right to make it 2-0. Harrison worked a nine-pitch walk to put runners on the corners with one out.
Boulger then sent Harrison to second, drawing a throw down that allowed Rumbolt to scamper home and put Drury up, 3-0.
"We're not going to be the offensive juggernaut we may have been the last couple of years," Boulger said. "I said from Day 1 that we're going to have to play some small ball and manufacture some runs."
Drury travels for an independent double-header against Tantasqua on Tuesday before coming home for another rivalry game the following Monday.
Boulger said that he is encouraged with how his team looks two games into the season.
"Guys were making great defensive plays, outfield played well, [Dubie] fielded his position, obviously," Boulger said. "I can't say enough about these guys right now because they believe in themselves. When you have that, who knows? It makes for a nice start to a season"