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Sports

Connelly, Gibb Brothers Help Lead Stoughton High Baseball to Big Extra Inning Win

The SHS baseball team picked up its first win this season beating Sharon 5-2 Wednesday in nine innings. Mike Connelly, Zach Gibb, Jake Gibb, Pat Jackman and Will McGrath had big hits and Mike Gallagher and Mike Dixon had solid performances on the mound.

Getting the first one is always the hardest.

The Stoughton High baseball team (1-3) earned their first victory of the season when they defeated the Sharon Eagles (4-1) 5-2 in 9 innings Tuesday afternoon. 

The Knights had strong all around games from senior captains Mike Connelly, Pat Jackman and Will McGrath. Junior Michael Gallagher pitched 7 innings for Stoughton only allowing one run, while senior Mike Dixon closed the door in relief of Gallagher in the 8th and 9th innings.

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Stoughton's first run of the game came on a solo home run by Connelly in the top of the fourth inning. On a 2-1 count Connelly scorched the pitch over the right field fence, in what was a certain home run as soon as it made contact with the bat.

The score remained 1-0 all the way until the bottom of the 6th when Sharon was able to score a run on a sacrifice fly ending Gallagher's shutout bid through 5 and 2/3 innings. Neither team was able to score in the 7th, sending the game into extra innings.

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The top of the 8th went much of the same for both the Knights and Eagles with neither team scoring sending the game into the 9th inning still tied at 1-1.

In what has been the best offensive inning of the young season for the Black and Orange, Stoughton was able to score 4 runs in the top of the ninth. 

Junior Zach Gibb started the inning, crushing a one out double. The next batter, freshman Jake Gibb (Zach's younger brother), kept the rally going with a single to score his brother and give the Knights a 2-1 lead. Dixon then helped his own cause by hitting a single, followed by a Jackman hit to score Gibb making the score 3-1. Hits by McGrath and Connelly gave Stoughton a 5-1 lead heading into the bottom of the 9th.

Sharon was able to score a run in the bottom of the inning making Stoughton's lead 5-2, before Dixon turned a 1-6-3 double play to end the game.

Offensively, along with Connelly's home run, the Gibb brothers shined. Zach Gibb ended the day with three hits, and Jake Gibb had two hits, while landing on base three times.

The offensive burst in the 9th inning of this game could be that one inning that gives Stoughton confidence with the bats moving forward.

Jackman thought so when saying, "This was huge, we approached this as a must win and to come up with one in extra innings is phenomenal. The offensive outbreak was great to see, and that was what we have been lacking. To see everyone pitch in and execute, it's great."

Connelly agreed with Jackman in addition to talking a little bit about his huge fourth inning home run.

"The homer felt good. He threw me a hanging curve ball and I waited back and swung," Connelly said, adding "The [offensive] outbreak was good. It gave everyone the extra confidence boost we needed, and hopefully we will keep it going."

Coach Mike Armour talked about just how big this game was for the Knights.

"We needed it. We approached this as a tournament game. We knew they were 4-0 and we were 0-3, but we know we have a good team. We came out a little flat, but it was nice to put one together today." 

Armour continued, "The kids came to play, they had a great practice [Tuesday]. Today they showed up and executed and were able to get the win."

Armour then chimed in on just how this big offensive performance is going to help Stoughton's confidence moving forward.

"It's everything. Our pitching and defense is going to keep us in games, so if we can get the bats going we are going to be a tough team to beat. This is definitely a step in the right direction."

Gallagher, who pitched a gem of a game despite having some shoulder pain, also got credit for his huge performance on Tuesday.

"It was just guts, whenever he steps out on the mound he is just a competitor. He has been since his freshman year, and he goes out and deals." Armour said, "We knew we were going up against their ace, we knew it was going to be a tight game, and Mike matched him pitch for pitch. He went 7 innings, I couldn't of peeled him out of the game, he didn't want to come out. He is just a competitor, and a great teammate. Just an amazing game by him today."

Stoughton's next game is Monday, April 15 when they host Brockton. First pitch is slated for 11 a.m. due to it being April Vacation for the Stoughton Public Schools.

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