Hoosac Slams Lee to Win Fourth Straight Game
LEE, Mass. -- The Hoosac Valley baseball team used to have trouble getting clutch hits and scoring runs. That's not really a problem much anymore.The Hurricanes exploded for 19 hits on Tuesday, scoring 11 times in the third inning alone on their way to a 22-2 win at Lee in a game shortened to just five innings due to the mercy rule. Bob Rivard's club is averaging 10.75 runs over its last four games, all of which turned out to be wins for a Hoosac team that has seen its record go from .500 to 9-5 in the past week.
"The team is really starting to hit in the last couple of games," Rivard said. "The pitching has been good, and the defense is playing well also. A couple of the kids really hit the ball hard today, and we need to continue this as the team tries to get to the playoffs."
The Wildcats (1-13) scored a pair of runs off of Hurricanes starter Mike Koperniak in the bottom of the first inning, only to see Hoosac put up an 11-run frame two innings later. The 'Canes scored five more runs in the fourth inning and six more in the fifth to get the game over with early. Junior Zach Lancia went off for a 3 for 3 day with a home run, a double, six RBI and three runs scored, while classmate Connor Tworig also hit his first homer of the season and finished with two hits.
Senior Aaron Solari knocked in four runs on the day, while junior Slayter Aubin had two doubles and three runs batted in. Senior Zach Larabee also had a good game at the plate, going 3 for 4 with two doubles and one RBI.
Koperniak struck out six batters and walked one over four innings of work to improve his record to 5-1 this year. Preston Webb pitched just under three innings to earn the loss for Lee.
Hoosac next plays at Mount Everett at 4 p.m. on Wednesday.