Canton A’s rebound with 3 wins in 4 tries
By Mike BergerWith three wins last week to go along with improved hitting and pitching, the Canton A’s baseball team has put itself in a good position to make a run during the second half of the season. Now at the midpoint, the A’s are 6-8-1, good for seventh place in the nine-team Cranberry League.
Last week the A’s lost to Easton 4-0 but beat second-place Weymouth 3-2 and swept a doubleheader against Brockton, winning 4-3 in 10 innings and 7-3 in the second game.
A’s head coach Kee Arguimbau said the team is coming together thanks to consistent pitching and timely hitting. Even in the loss to Easton, Arguimbau was impressed with the pitching of newcomer Giovanni Abreu, who did not allow a run until the sixth inning.
Tyler Hitchcock, one of the team’s two representatives in the league all-star game, pitched a three-hit complete game in the win over Weymouth.
Key hits were delivered by fellow all-star Brian Williams, John Garabedian, and Chris Puliafico — all in the first inning as the A’s scored all three of their runs. Kevin O’Sullivan, the team’s newest player, played an excellent game at second base.
In the first game of Sunday’s doubleheader, Nick Radcliffe came on in relief and pitched five shutout innings to close out the game, striking out six batters. Williams drove in the winning run in the 10th inning, and Chuck Erickson also contributed to the win with a homerun.
In the second game, Mark Nelson, one of the team’s top pitchers last season, returned to throw a complete game as part of a solid all-around performance by the A’s. O’Sullivan had two hits, Steve Delanian had two doubles, and Williams also delivered a double.
Hitchcock now has four wins on the season with four complete games and an earned run average hovering around 1.00. Williams, a shortstop, is batting .300 with 10 doubles and several clutch hits.
The A’s are off this week due to the July 4th holiday and the all-star game, but they will return to action with consecutive home games on Tuesday, July 10, against Middleboro and Thursday, July 12, against Rockland. Both games start at 6 p.m. at CHS.
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Posted by Mike Berger
on Jul 5 2012. Filed under Beyond CHS, Sports.
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