Offense stalls out in Hurricanes' loss to St. Joe's
PITTSFIELD, Mass. -- The Hoosac Valley baseball team scored nine runs in one inning in the first game of a doubleheader between two different teams on Sunday. The Hurricanes must have used up all of their good at bats in their 15-3 win over Mount Everett earlier in the day because they didn't find the same offensive explosiveness against Brandon Casella and St. Joe's.Casella went the distance on Sunday, allowing one run on six hits to lead the Crusaders to a 3-1 win and the South Division title. Casella struck out five and walked two to pick up the win. He outpitched Hoosac starter Mike Koperniak, who also competed well in the game. The junior hurler went the distance, surrendering one earned run on seven hits to go along with three strikeouts and two walks. Koperniak, who established himself as the 'Canes top pitcher this year, finished the season with a 5-2 record.
"It was a tough loss today," Hoosac head coach Bob Rivard said. "We had a few chances to score, but it didn't happen. It was a well-pitched game by Mike."
With the score tied at 1-1 entering the bottom of the sixth inning, Casella got things started for St. Joe's (13-7) with a leadoff single. He then took third base thanks to a passed ball and a groundout. A Hoosac error on the next play allowed Trevor Johnston to reach base and also score Casella. Johnston then increased the Crusaders' lead to 3-1 by coming home on an RBI single by Chris Begrowicz.
Tanner Bird continued his great day by going 3 for 3 with a run scored. In two games on Sunday, Bird went 7 for 7 with four runs scored and one RBI, raising his season average to .353 in the process.
The Hurricanes, who finished the regular season at 12-8 with a split on Sunday, now move on to the Division 2 Western Mass. tournament, which will start later in the week. Hoosac drew the No. 7 seed and will host No. 10 Belchertown (7-13) at 4 p.m. on Thursday.