Cancilla Two-Run Double Lifts Wahconah to Comeback Win

DALTON, Mass. -- Playing the third game in a run of four in five days, the Wahconah baseball team Monday needed a little depth out of its pitching staff.

 

Bob Archambault and Tanner Hill gave them more than enough.

 

The sophomore tandem combined to strike out nine and allow just two hits in a 4-1, come-from-behind win over Mohawk Trail.

 

Austin Cancilla delivered a two-run double in the bottom of the fifth to erase a 1-0 deficit as Wahconah won its fourth straight and improved to 4-1 this season.

 

“We were looking at this game figuring: How are we going to piece this thing together,” Wahconah coach Rob Cowdrey said. “We didn’t know how Tanner would produce on the hill, and the goal was: Let’s score as much as we can.

 

“Unfortunately, our bats went quiet. But, surprisingly, Tanner stepped up, held us in the game and allowed us the opportunity. Our guys don’t give up; that’s the best thing about them. As long as our pitchers give us an opportunity and keep us in the games, anything’s possible.”

 

Wahconah, which allowed five runs in its season opening loss at Monument, has allowed just five runs in the four games since, a run that included a shutout over the Spartans on Saturday in the rematch.

 

On Monday, Mohawk plated the first man it sent to the plate. Dan Szarfran earned a leadoff walk, stole second and came home on a one-out single by Adam Hallenbeck.

 

But that was all Archambault would allow over three innings of work.

 

He left the bases loaded to end the first and stranded men at second and third with one out in the third.

 

Hill came on and was even stronger, allowing just one man to reach second base.

 

Both Wahconah pitchers benefited from solid defense. The team did not commit and error and turned a 1-6-3 double play to end the fifth.

 

“We’re solid defense all the way around,” Cowdrey said. “Our middle infield, if you hit one up the middle with a man on base, chances are we’re going to turn the double play.”

 

Those “quiet” Wahconah bats woke up in the fifth inning.

 

Archambault got things started with an infield single. He went to second on an errant pickoff throw and third when Dane Campbell singled. Campbell stole second to put two men in scoring position for Cancilla, who drilled a double to left center that gave Wahconah a 2-1 lead.

 

In the seventh, Will Genaway walked to lead things off, and Joe Woronick doubled before Ethan Forfa’s sacrifice bunt brought home Genaway. Woronick scored on a wild pitch to provide the final margin.

 

Wahconah travels to Auburn on Tuesday and plays two more games Thursday and Saturday to finish school vacation week.