Bohl Leads McCann to Win, Share of League Title

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. -- The McCann Tech baseball team did a lot of little things right in Wednesday’s 5-4 win over Pathfinder at Joe Wolfe Field.

 

But the biggest difference maker may have been Charlie Bohl.

 

Besides receiving for winning pitcher Austin MIller and throwing out three of four would-be base stealers, Bohl also had McCann’s only hit: an RBI single to right that broke a 2-2 tie and gave the Hornets the lead for good.

 

“I know that I coach him, but I really believe Charlie Bohl is the best catcher in the league,” McCann coach Pat Ryan said. “I was surprised, to be honest, that they kept trying to run on him. Maybe there were some missed signs.

 

“He’s a helluva catcher and a helluva senior leader.”

 

And Bohl plays on a senior-studded team that for the second straight season has earned a share of the Tri-County title.

 

McCann earned that piece of the crown on Wednesday. It can win the league outright on Friday when it takes on Dean Tech.

 

Pathfinder did not make the Hornets’ path to the title an easy one.

 

The Pioneers put the pressure on early, scoring the first two men to come to the plate.

 

After Joe Roman reached on an error, Luke LaGrant drove him home with a double in the left-center gap. Another error eventually brought LaGrant home to give the visitors a 2-0 lead on a pair of unearned runs.

 

McCann answered right away, scratching out two runs without the benefit of a hit in the bottom of the first.

 

Mike Ferrara walked, moved up on a wild pitch, stole third and came in on a passed ball. Batting behind him, Collin Racette walked, took second, went to third on the same passed ball and scored on a groundout by Bohl.

 

Bohl’s single in the fourth scored Miller, who was hit by a pitch and stole second.

 

McCann added insurance runs in the fifth and sixth thanks to combinations of errors, walks and stolen bases. Eathan Heller made a big contribution in the sixth, dropping a sacrifice bunt that moved Connor Guyette to third base; he came home on a wild pitch to make it 5-3.

 

Pathfinder did not go quietly.

 

The Pioneers started the seventh with a walk, and after a flyball out, a second walk put the tying run on base. A groundball to short made it two outs with runners at the corners, and Miller walked the next two men, making it 5-4 with the bases loaded.

 

At that point, Ryan decided the day was over for Miller, who struck out nine and allowed just two hits but walked seven.

 

Robert Matte came on to get the final out on a line drive to Miller at short, leaving the bases loaded and the Hornets in control of their destiny in the Tri-County League.

 

“Austin Miller is another senior leader and a heck of a pitcher,” Ryan said. “He’s gotten behind in the count all year, but tonight he showed what he can do. He threw a lot of pitches, but he got the job done.”

 

McCann will play for an outright league title on Friday at home at 4 p.m.