Cooney Pitches Millionaires to Season-Opening Win
LENOX, Mass. – Lenox’s Seamus Cooney ended Tuesday’s baseball season opener the way he played all game – by pitching out of trouble.
Cooney got out of a one-out, bases-loaded jam against the heart of McCann Tech’s order to preserve a 3-1 win at War Memorial Field.
The sophomore struck out just five, but all five of those came with runners on base – one in the first to leave the bases loaded, one in the fifth to strand a runner at second and one in the seventh, again with the sacks full.
“I just had confidence in my fielders behind me,” Cooney said. “One [Lenox] error, pretty good. I just feel good now.”
And Millionaires coach Kevin Downer felt pretty good about his decision to keep Cooney on the mound after he gave up a hit, a double and a walk to load the bases with one out in the seventh.
“I had to make a decision,” Downer said. “Hey, if he’s gonna be my ace this year, I figured I’m going to stay with him, see if he can gut it out. And he did just that.”
Cooney got McCann Tech’s No. 3 hitter, Lucas Rylander, who was 1-for-3 on the day, on a swinging third strike to get within one out of the complete-game win.
“I threw fastballs to him,” Cooney said. “Honestly, I was just throwing as hard as I can. I just left it all out there.”
He then got the final out on a pop fly to shortstop David Kirchner to come out on the winning side of a pitcher’s duel with McCann Tech’s Brodie Smith.
Smith struck out five and did not allow a run until Lenox got three unearned runs in the bottom of the sixth to erase a 1-0 deficit.
“I think he lost a little velocity at the end, but it’s the beginning of the season,” McCann Tech coach Justin Howland said. “I didn’t want to hang him out there for a lot of pitches. But all in all, he threw a hell of a game.
“One mistake away from an early, ugly, low-scoring early season game.”
The Hornets’ offense gave Smith an ugly run in the top of the fifth.
Jack Dolan reached on an overthrow and took second base to start the inning. He then moved up on a groundball to the right side and scored on Zach Howland’s RBI groundout.
McCann Tech got another runner into scoring position when Andrew Meaney singled and Hayden Barrett pinch ran and stole second with two out. But Cooney got his second inning-ending strikeout of the game to close the door and keep it 1-0.
It stayed that way until the bottom of the sixth.
Lenox’s Zack Nicotra started the winning rally by working a one-out walk.
He then moved up when Robert Bazinet reached on an error and scored on Brendan Albert’s double to right-center to tie the game, 1-1.
Smith got a strikeout with two runners in scoring position, but McCann Tech’s second error of the inning allowed Bazinet and Albert to both score, putting Lenox up by two runs.
Smith allowed a walk before being lifted for Dylan Turner. Turner retired the first batter he faced, but the damage was done.
With the bottom of its order starting the top of the seventh, McCann Tech made things very uncomfortable for the Millionaires and their fans.
Brodie Hayden hit a one-out single down the third base line and went to third on Zach Howland’s double to right. Barrett worked a walk to load the bases before Cooney was able to close the door.
“It just feels great to win our first game, honestly,” Cooney said. “Great way to start off our year. They knocked us off last year in Western Mass. It feels good to get some revenge.”
Lenox (1-0) is back at home on Thursday to host Mount Greylock.
The Hornets (0-1) are on the road again Friday to face Mount Everett. McCann Tech will host the Millionaires on April 30.