The last time the Pioneer baseball team reached a state final it had to go through Hopedale to get there. Why would anything be different this time around?
The Panthers had the Blue Raiders’ number when the two squads squared off in the state semifinals in 2011, pulling out a 4-2 victory before falling to Newburyport in the state finals. Pioneer is hoping to have the same success against Hopedale the second time around, with the two facing off on Tuesday at Westfield State University with a spot in the MIAA Div. 5 state finals on the line.
First pitch is set for 4 p.m. on Tuesday.
“We’ve been preaching the same message since the start of the state tournament by telling the kids that each practice could be our last,” Panthers coach Kevin Luippold said. “The kids have made sure that hasn’t been the case. It’s win or go home this time of year. We just have to win two more games to be state champions. Everyone knows we can do it, we just have to keep doing what we’ve been doing.”
Central Mass. opponents have been kind to Pioneer so far in the state tournament. The 12th-seeded Panthers went on the road to beat No. 5 Oxford 10-6 in the Round of 16 and on Saturday, picked up a come-from-behind 10-7 win over No. 13 Sutton to advance to the semifinals.
Both the Pirates and Sammies play in the same league as top-seeded Hopedale, though the Blue Raiders were the best of the bunch during the regular season. Hopedale (17-7) beat Sutton twice (6-5 and 8-1) while earning a 13-2 win over Oxford in their lone regular season meeting.
The Blue Raiders lost to Tahanto — the No. 4 seed in the Div. 5 tournament — in the Central Mass. final, but had done enough during the season to earn the No. 1 seed in the Div. 5 field.
“I’m assuming this will be the biggest challenge yet,” Luippold said. “Both the Oxford and Sutton coach said [Hopedale is] a very good team. It doesn’t scare me but we’ll get a gut check when we see them on the field. You have to assume if they’re the No. 1 seed they’re one of the best teams in the state but we’re excited. With the way we’ve been swinging the bats, we’ll be ready to compete with anyone.”
Both teams will be without their ace on Tuesday due to the new MIAA pitch count rule. Pioneer’s Ethan Quinn is ineligible to pitch after being on the hill on Saturday against Sutton while Blue Raiders ace Will Parker — who is committed to attend and play for Army next year — tossed a complete game, two-hit shutout against Carver on Saturday in the quarterfinals.
Expect Parker, who plays shortstop when not on the mound, to still have an impact at the plate on Tuesday.
“They have a stud like [Parker] and they have a well-rounded group of upperclassmen,” Luippold said. “I’m expecting them to look like a No. 1 seed who does everything well.”
While Hopedale might be the No. 1 seed, Pioneer will enter the game with plenty of confidence. The Panthers (20-1) haven’t lost a game since April 27 and are winners of 12 straight. Pioneer has been belting the baseball during that span, averaging 9.9 runs-per-game during its winning streak.
That stretch includes a three-game run to a Western Mass. Class D title and three state tournament wins. Luippold said the Panthers are peaking at the perfect time of year.
“Coming from behind against Sutton really helped our confidence,” Luippold said. “They were the best team we’ve played all year but we were able to dig ourselves out of a hole. We’ve scored double-digit runs in each game in this state tournament and have had double-digit hits in our last two wins. Everyone is coming in early, staying late and trying to stay as prepared as possible.”
Pioneer has gotten production from its entire lineup during its run, and will need all nine guys to step up to earn a spot in the finals.
“All year I’ve been telling the guys to swing the bat and be confident in themselves,” Luippold said. “When we haven’t scored runs in the first inning, we don’t strike out. We’re still putting the bat on the ball and know we’ll get them next time. We saw that against Sutton. We hit the ball, just didn’t score any runs. Our confidence grew the second time through the lineup. When you’re hitting a pitcher it makes them throw more pitches, they might get more rattled and we’ve been able to draw some timely walks to score runs.”
The winner of Tuesday’s contest will face the victor of No. 2 Georgetown and No. 3 Mt. Greylock in the finals. The Royals and Mounties square off on Wednesday at Westfield State at 4 p.m. in the other Division 5 semifinal. The state finals are expected to be played this weekend at either Fitton Field in Worcester or LeLacheur Park in Lowell.
NOTES: Fans looking to attend Tuesday’s state semifinal at Westfield State will need to purchase tickets online prior to entry. The MIAA said no cash will be accepted at the door. All tickets cost $10 and are available at gofan.co — search for your school to find the correct matchup. … Pioneer is one of two double-digit baseball seeds remaining across the five divisions in the state tournaments. Bay Path was seeded 14th in Division 4, and will play No. 7 Seekonk in the semifinal round on Tuesday at Fraser Field in Lynn.