By Max Clifford
Hometown Weekly Reporter
On a rain-soaked Friday afternoon at Polar Park in Worcester, second-seeded Medfield High School Varsity Baseball battled fourth-seeded Oakmont for the MIAA Division III state championship. The 12-inning marathon eventually went the way of the Spartans, who ended the Warriors season with a 5-3 victory.
Medfield’s first inning set a strong tone for the title game. Starting pitcher Jack Collins worked a 1-2-3 inning with a pair of strikeouts. In the bottom of the frame, Scott Donahue launched a 400-foot solo homerun to put the Warriors ahead 1-0.
Oakmont’s response was quick. Colby Gouldrup brought home Isiah Smith with an RBI double, tying the game at one score apiece.
In the bottom of the fourth inning, Colby Hatch grabbed the lead for Medfield, popping up a bunt that saw four Oakmont infielders in pursuit, but eventually fell to safety. The 2-1 lead quickly stretched to 3-1 courtesy of an RBI triple from Jack Iovino.
Medfield was prevented from inflicting further damage in the fourth due to three baserunners being caught on the paths.
Despite the Spartans threatening in each inning Jack Collins was able to prevent a second run through five frames.
In the sixth, Oakmont’s Johnny Lasordo struck with an RBI single, cutting the Medfield lead to 3-2. An inning later, a triple and single tied the game at three runs apiece.
With an opportunity to win the game in the bottom of the seventh, Iovino lead off with a double to put the Warriors in position to win on a walkoff. Oakmont’s Ben Forbes worked past the blemish to strike out the side, sending the game to extra innings.
Collins’ strong outing continued into the eighth, laying down the side in order and striking out his tenth batter, giving his offense another chance to win the game. Another opportunity for the Warriors to drive in a runner from scoring position resulted in another empty frame and more extra innings.
The ninth inning saw a change on the mound for Medfield. Out of the bullpen, Alex Munz struck out a pair, keeping the Spartans scoreless once again. The Warriors were inches away from a walkoff win in the bottom of the ninth, but Oakmont’s centerfielder held onto a fly ball while colliding with his right fielder to finish the frame.
Continuing his relief work, Munz retired six straight batters in the 10th and 11th innings. Despite a leadoff double from Collins in the 10th, the Warriors’ offense could not muster a run.
Supporting his own relief pitching efforts, Forbes drove home the go-ahead run with a sacrifice fly. The Spartans’ starting pitcher, Jayden Downing, added an insurance run on a squeeze bunt, stretching the advantage to 5-3.
Medfield’s best offensive efforts could not produce the necessary runs in the bottom of the 12th.
After a three hour contest and a heavy dose of rain, Oakmont ended the Medfield playoff run, defeating the Warriors by a final score of 5-3 to claim the state championship.
