Season ends for CHS baseball and softball teams
By Mike Berger
Senior Jess Wright capped her career with a well-deserved all-league honorable mention. (Mike Tureski photo)
Canton High’s varsity baseball and softball teams both officially closed the book on their 2024 seasons last week, ending with identical records of 6-14 after losses to Foxboro and Norwood, respectively.
Although competitive in several of their losses this season, both squads ultimately finished outside of the playoff picture, with the baseball team ranking 37th and the softball team slotting in at 43rd in the final Division 2 state power rankings. Under current MIAA rules, teams can qualify for the postseason either by posting a .500 or better record or by ranking inside the top 32 in their division.
The baseball team in particular had stretches where they appeared to be in contention for a playoff spot, but they sputtered down the stretch with 10 losses over their final 12 games.
Of the team’s 14 losses this season, half of them came by just one run and nine were decided by two runs or less — including losses of 3-1 and 2-0 to Nipmuc and Milford last week.
Against Milford, Canton pitcher Kyle Redquest allowed only four hits, but the Bulldogs managed just four hits of their own, including two by Andrew Gillis and one apiece by Shane Kelleher and Nick Gillis.
Canton also wasted another solid pitching performance from freshman Dean Madden, who limited Nipmuc to three hits over six innings of work. Andrew Gillis drove in the Bulldogs’ lone run with Owen Lane, Nick Gillis and Redquest also collecting hits.
One day after the baseball club wrapped up its season, the softball team did the same in a hard-fought, 14-7 road loss to Norwood.
Having previously suffered consecutive 12-0 defeats against Mansfield and Foxboro, Canton ended on a more promising note against the Mustangs, battling back from an early 3-0 hole to keep it close for several innings before Norwood broke the game open with eight runs in the bottom of the fifth.
Laura Valkanas had a big day at the plate in her final game in a Bulldog uniform, collecting two hits to go along with three RBIs, while fellow senior Sam Grady and junior Chloe Guerschuny added a pair of hits and one RBI apiece.
Short URL: https://www.thecantoncitizen.com/?p=124999
Posted by Mike Berger
on May 31 2024. Filed under High School, Sports.
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