Canton High baseball goes 2-2 in busy opening week
By Mike Berger
Junior Kevin Powers is the Bulldogs’ top returning starting pitcher. (Mike Barucci photo)
It was a busy opening week for the Canton High baseball team as the Bulldogs played four games in five days — all at the Kennedy School’s Ruane Field — winning two and losing two.
The team fell to North Attleboro 4-3 in extra innings but rebounded the next day with a 10-9 extra-innings victory over Oliver Ames. Then, after a 10-1 blowout loss to Milford, the Bulldogs responded again with a convincing 12-4 win over nonleague Dedham.
Senior captain Pat Vartanian, who doubles as a catcher and a pitcher, picked up both wins on the mound — as a reliever against OA and as the starter versus Dedham. He also has five hits through the first four games.
Juniors Joe Peccia and Mike McMahon are currently tied for the team lead with a .500 batting average and two stolen bases. Peccia also has six runs scored, tied with Kevin Powers for the team lead, and has a hit in each game so far.
In the OA game, Vartanian and senior Steve Bonica both homered as CHS took a 5-3 lead after the first inning. Junior Sean Doyle got the start and worked into the fourth inning, leaving the game with the Bulldogs still leading 6-4.
After falling behind 9-6, Canton came back to tie the game with a three-run sixth inning, knocking OA starter Brendan Welch from the game. Junior Griffin Jerrier had the game-tying hit, and an inning later he drew a walk for the game-winning RBI.
Vartanian also had a great day at the plate, going 2 for 3 with a homerun, a double, two walks, and four RBIs.
Other top performers included junior leadoff hitter Jim Jenkins, who went 2 for 5 with two runs scored, and Peccia, who scored three times on a hit, a fielder’s choice, and two walks drawn.
Junior catcher Joe Bires also had a big defensive play, firing down to second and picking off the OA runner to end the Tigers’ threat in the top of the seventh.
Now 2-2, the Bulldogs were due to host Stoughton on Tuesday and Cardinal Spellman Thursday (today) at 11 a.m. The team will then travel to Sharon on April 27 and Attleboro April 29.
Short URL: https://www.thecantoncitizen.com/?p=29245
Posted by Mike Berger
on Apr 23 2015. Filed under High School, Sports.
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