Late Quinsigamond Homer Ends Baseball’s Season

BROCKTON, Mass. ---- Juan Soto launched a two-out, full-count go-ahead three run homer in the top of the ninth to give Quinsigamond the come-from-behind 4-3 win over Massasoit, in an elimination game of the Region 21 Tournament on Saturday afternoon.

Leading 3-1, the Wyverns (9-11-1) put two on with two-out against Warrior starter John Tinker (Weymouth). On a full count, shortstop Juan Soto connected for the three-run bomb, ending the season for the Warriors (17-14).

The homer spoiled an excellent pitching performance by Tinker (3-2) who went 8.2 innings for Massasoit, the longest outing by a Warrior on the mound in 2017. Tinker worked out of numerous jams to keep the Warriors ahead throughout the contest until the ninth. The righty scattered 14 hits, and held the Wyverns to just one run over his first eight innings of work. He fanned four and walked two in the loss.

"Tink was great for us," interim coach Ben Warnick said. "He threw strikes and worked out of jams throughout the game. It was a big business performance by him. We just didn't give him enough run support. I thought as a team we were not as focused as we were in our game vs Northern Essex. That tough loss earlier in the game might have carried over a bit into the afternoon.."

Massasoit managed just five hits against QCC, as Dylan Ashburn (Norton) went 2-for-4 with a double and two RBI to close out his career with the Warriors. Fellow sophomore Bryan Dwyer added a RBI single and Lewando scored twice in the loss.

The Warriors only managed one base runner, a Kyle Holmberg (Middleboro) walk, over the final four innings against QCC.

"It was a great season by our guys, we just came up a little short in the end," Warnick said. "We played hard throughout the season and that is all Coach Croatti and myself could ask for."

The Wyverns will face Northern Essex in the Region 21 Finals set to be played in Northborough, Mass.