Drake Sac Fly Lifts Wahconah on Road in Western Mass Tourney

SOUTHWICK, Mass. – Carter Drake hit a sacrifice fly in the top of the eighth Monday to give Wahconah a 4-3 win over Southwick in the Western Massachusetts Class B Quarter-Finals.

 

James Rabuse struck out the side in the bottom of the inning to finish the game and send Wahconah on to meet the winner of Tuesday’s game between second-seeded Taconic and East Longmeadow in the regional semi-finals.

 

Rabuse struck out 10 and walked four in four innings of relief, allowing just one unearned run.

 

Braedyn Melle got the start on the mound for Wahconah and gave up a pair of runs in four innings, leaving with the game tied, 2-2.

 

Wahconah took a 3-2 lead in the top of the fifth, but the Rams struck back with a run in the bottom of the frame to tie it.

 

After two scoreless innings, the teams went to the eighth.

 

With one out, Beau Walton worked a seven-pitch walk.

 

He moved up to second when Rabuse reached on an error, and Ryan Marauszwski loaded the bases with a walk.

 

That brought up Drake, who went 2-for-3 with an RBI up to that point.

 

He lifted a fly ball to right field that scored Walton to put Wahconah ahead for good.

 

Walton had a strong day at the plate, going 3-for-3, and he scored three times.

 

Dom Marcella, Melle and Rabuse each had a single.

 

Sixth-seeded Wahconah improved to 12-7 with its second straight win.