Early Offensive Outburst Paces Stoughton High Baseball at Quincy

The Stoughton High baseball team is young and knew entering this season that it would be an uphill climb to earn a postseason berth playing in the very competitive Hockomock League. After a much-needed and decisive 10-3 victory Friday afternoon at Quincy, the Black Knights are still continuing the climb.

Stoughton has now won two consecutive games, outscoring its opponents 25-9, as the bats have come alive. After going 3-1 this week, the Black Knights have improved to 6-9, (3-8 Hockomock League and 2-3 Davenport Division) with five games remaining. Stoughton must win four of its last five games to qualify for postseason play.

“We dug ourselves into a hole, early in the season, but we’ve given ourselves a shot and we’ll go down fighting,” Stoughton coach Mike Armour said.

Like the when Stoughton scored 10 runs in the first inning, the Black Knights never let this game be in doubt, scoring seven runs in the first inning against Quincy.

The first nine batters reached base, and the Black Knights were able to avenge their , at home, to the Presidents.

In , Alex Fernandes was hit by a batted ball from a teammate that may have tied the game, but ended it, instead. Fernandes turned that agony of defeat into the thrill of victory, against Quincy.

Fernandes got the start and was outstanding, pitching a complete game with seven strikeouts. Fernandes also helped his own cause at the plate, with two RBI’s and two runs scored, going three-for four.

There were many heroes for the Black Knights. Pat Jackman went two-for-four and scored two runs. Jackman was also stellar defensively at shortstop, playing flawlessly and having six assists over the final three innings.

Eric McPherson scored two runs and went two-for-four. Mike Connelly was one-for-one with a double, two walks, a sacrifice fly, and a run scored. Jamie Connors got his first start, playing a solid second base, and adding an RBI single with his first at bat.

Quincy scored a run in the first and third inning, to cut the deficit to 7-2. Stoughton then scored two more runs in the fourth inning, Quincy added a run in the fifth, and Stoughton got its final run in the seventh inning to account for the final score.

Stoughton now will play two road games, at and at , on Monday and Wednesday, respectively. Both teams won at Stoughton, earlier this season.

The Black Knights need to win at least one of those games to keep their postseason hopes alive entering the last week of the season with home games against Canton, King Philip and a crossover game against the team from the Kelley-Rex Division of the Hockomock League that finished in the same position as Stoughton.

“We need to take this one game at a time and if we play like we did against Quincy then we can play against anybody,” Armour said.