H.S. Roundup: Franklin Tech cruises past Athol at Dunkin’ Park in Hartford

HARTFORD, CONN. — Under the backdrop of a professional field and a city skyline, the Franklin Tech baseball team defeated Athol, 11-0, in five innings on Thursday night.

The clubs played their Suburban East matchup at Dunkin’ Park. As the sun went down, the teams really soaked in the atmosphere with the stadium lights beaming down on the perfectly landscaped green grass and immaculate infield dirt.

“To be able to have this experience for these kids was huge,” Franklin Tech coach Dan Prasol said. “This is such a great experience for them, and I am so glad they were able to have it.”

Franklin Tech (3-0, 2-0 Franklin East) scored seven runs in the first inning. Hunter Donahue sent a laser down the left field line for a triple that scored three runs for the Eagles. Regardless of the where they play, Franklin Tech is off to an impressive start this season.

“Not many high schoolers have this experience” Donahue said. “It’s really cool to be able to play here. We have great chemistry. We seem to be hitting the ball well. We got off to a good start because we were all trying to hit a bomb at a minor league stadium. Pitchers are throwing well and we are hitting well.”

Mason Bassett stepped onto the mound at Dunkin Park and pitched a one-hitter. Bassett had seven strikeouts and two walks. There were some differences between Dunkin Park and the homefield in Turners Falls.

“Yeah, there’s no rubber to push off of,” Bassett said. “It’s a different environment when you are in a stadium. I was able to adjust in the bullpen. I felt good. I was able to push off. It’s all good.”

Cooper Smith had the lone hit of the night for the Bears. Eli Wein pitched in relief, striking out six with two walks. Wein gave up four runs.

Dunkin’ Park is the home of the Hartford Yard Goats of the Eastern League. The Yard Goats are a Double-A affiliate of the Colorado Rockies. The stadium holds 6,121 people and it debuted in 2017. The cost of the stadium was approximately $56 million.

“Awesome park to play in,” Athol coach Henry King said. “The kids were really excited. It’s cool to play in the heart of a city. First inning got us a little bit. After the first inning it was a 4-0 game. I am okay with that.”

Athol originally attempted to get a game at Polar Park but was unsuccessful. The Yard Goats put out some information about hosting high school games and Athol reached to the club. The Yard Goats selected Athol, and they gave the Bears some dates to choose from during the spring season.

“It’s a great experience and great opportunity for our kids,” Athol Athletic Director Dan Bevis said.

Nick Prasol, Brody Hicks, Levi Clark and Cole Gamache all had RBI in the seven run first inning for the Eagles. George Gutierrez Jr. had an RBI groundout in the top of the third. Braeden Talbot had a run scored in the top of the fifth inning for Franklin Tech.

Gutierrez added a double in the top of the second.

Monson 4, Mahar 1 — The Senators had a lead, but a four-run fifth inning by the Mustangs led to a loss on the road in a Bi-County North match up. Freeland Ringer had a hit and an RBI for Mahar (1-3, 0-3). Matt Vitello pitched six innings for the Senators, giving up one earned run with three strikeouts.

Greenfield 10, Pioneer 0 — Conner Bergeron pitched a complete game shutout for the Green Wave in a Suburban East win over the Panthers in Northfield. Bergeron gave up three hits with five strikeouts. Chase Zraunig had three doubles and three RBI for the Green Wave (3-1, 2-0 Suburban East). Evan Tsipenyuk had a hit for the Panthers (0-3, 0-2).

Frontier 12, Turners Falls 1 — The Redhawks exploded for eight runs in the sixth inning to pull away from the Thunder in South Deerfield in a Suburban East match up. Alex D’Urso had three hits and two RBI for Frontier (4-2, 1-1 Suburban East). Grayson Bishop had two hits and two RBI for the Redhawks. Carter Miller got the win on the mound, giving three hits in six innings. Nathaniel Trinque, Trevor Lyons and Porter Dubow had hits for the Thunder (0-3, 0-2).

Softball

Gardner 25, Athol 0 — The Wildcats topped the Bears in an independent match up in Tool Town. Makenna Geyer had a hit for the Bears. Eleighana Smith drew two walks. Gracie Gauthier had four strikeouts in the circle.

McCann Tech 13, Pioneer 12 — The Hornets walked it off against the Panthers in a Valley Wheel contest in the Berkshires. McCann Tech scored two runs in the bottom of the seventh to pull off the victory. Pioneer amassed 16 hits in the loss. Jacobia Tyminski went 4-for-5 at the plate to lead Pioneer. Kaelynn Chabot, Tyminski, and Maggie Tsipenyuk each drove in two runs for the Panthers.

Boys tennis

Belchertown 4, Frontier 1 — Noah Nichols won in No. 2 singles, but the Redhawks (1-4, 1-1) lost to the Orioles on the road in a Valley Wheel match up.

Turners Falls 5, Greenfield 0 — The Thunder swept the Wave in Montague in a Tri County North matchup. Noah Kolodziej, Mario Pareja and Vaughn LaValley all won in singles for the Thunder (2-0, 1-0). Nethanel Martin and Daniel Lapinski won No. 1 doubles. Daniel Morales and Connor Glennon took No. 2 doubles. Julian Cavanaugh took No. 3 singles to a tiebreaker for the Wave (0-2, 0-2)