Connolly HUGE in pitchers duel! Trojans clinch Old Colony League Title!

Sophomore Jack Connolly was huger than huge on Tuesday afternoon as he led the Trojans to victory 2-1 over the Dartmouth Indians, striking out 10, and only giving up 5 hits and 1 walk in a complete game effort.The day started with a pregame ceremony celebrating the career of Dartmouth Head Coach Tom McDermott who is retiring at the end of this season after 30 years of coaching. Congratulations Coach McDermott!!The Indians got on the board first, scoring their only run of the game in the top of the 4th, on a delayed double steal, making the score 1-0. The Trojans answered in the bottom of the 5th when Senior Brian McSherry hustled out an infield hit. Despite McSherry being fleet of feet, Coach Kearney went to the bench and called on the speedy Senior Ross Talpy to pinch run. After advancing to 2nd on a ground out, Talpy would score the tying run when Corey Dinunno hustled out a laser double to left field to tie the game at 1. Senior Tyler Glavin came to the plate and hit a hard ground ball single to third, that scored the go ahead and eventual game winning run in the form of Corey Dinunno!The never say die Indians threatened in the top of the 9th, when with 2 outs Coach McDermott, who has been around the block a few times, went to his bench and summonsed to number 20 Nick Paine who did not disappoint as he poked a single to right field to extend the game. With runners on 1st and 2nd and 2 outs Coach Kearney called time and visited Connolly on the mound, telling him to "have fun and finish it, it was all his". After a longer than average visit he returned to the dugout and watched Connolly Strike out the last batter on 4 pitches, the last of which may have been the hardest pitch Jack ever threw!! Coach Kearney on the win "Awesome pitching performance by Jack Connolly and I'm very proud of the whole BR Baseball Program for winning the OCL title."The Trojans will face a rejuvenated Falmouth High team, that is looking for revenge, on Thursday at 4:00 at Hank Pearson Field.
(Photos by Debbie Bruemmel)