Postseason Primer: Stoughton High Baseball Ready to Host Dennis-Yarmouth in Playoff Opener

The Stoughton High baseball team (13-7) will open up the postseason against Dennis-Yarmouth (11-9) of the Atlantic Coast League Friday at home at 4 p.m. in a MIAA Division 2 South Sectional first round game. 

Stoughton comes in as the #6 seed in a 14-team field, while the Dolphins of Dennis-Yarmouth come in as the #11 seed.

The winner of Friday's contest will take on the winner of the game between #3 Greater New Bedford and #14 Somerset-Berkley.

A full Division 2 South Sectional bracket can be found by clicking here.  

SLOW START, STRONG FINISH, STRONG PITCHING 

After starting 0-3, the Knights put their foot on the gas winning 14 of their last 17 games. 

Stoughton pitchers Mike Gallagher, Mike Dixon, Will McGrath, Sam Werman, and Jake Gibb have all had quality starts for the Knights this season, keeping Stoughton in a majority of the games.

OFFENSIVE OUTPUT KEY

Offensively the Knights have been carried by senior captains Pat Jackman and Mike Connelly, along with juniors Jovani Pires and Gallagher. Pat Raeke has heated up as of late.   

Throughout the second half of the year the Knights have seen a little more consistency offensively but that remains a big concern for Stoughton going into the tournament.

Stoughton is confident that every time out they are going to get a good pitching performance and they are going to play good defense. The bats carry a little uncertainty for the Stoughton faithful, as they tend to go hot and cold depending on the game. 

If hot, Stoughton is one of the front runners to make it deep in this tournament. If Stoughton has trouble hitting the ball and relies solely on pitching it could be a disappointing early exit from the tournament.

RETURN TRIP TO POSTSEASON

This will be the second straight year the Knights are in the postseason, having qualified three out of the last four years. 

Last season Stoughton lost to eventual South Sectional Champion Plymouth North in the first round, 3-0. 

It is a bit of role reversal for Stoughton this time around as last year the team played in a 6 vs. 11 matchup as the #11 seed playing the #6 seed on the road. This year Stoughton is the #6 seed playing host to the visiting #11 seed.

POST PROM PARTY?

This game will also mark the second straight year Stoughton will open up its tournament run the day after the senior prom.

The prom is set to take place at the Copley Plaza Hotel in Boston on Thursday night.

DENNIS-YARMOUTH READY TO COMPETE 

Dennis-Yarmouth is looking to surprise a lot of teams as the #11 seed, and with their experience it would not come as a surprise to many. 

The Atlantic Coast Conference has some of the toughest opponents in the state in, Plymouth North (last year's Division 2 South Sectional Champions), Nauset (#1 seed in this year's bracket), Plymouth South, Marshfield, Falmouth, and Sandwich.

The Dolphins made the playoffs last year as the #3 seed where they lost to Plymouth North in the quarterfinals after receiving a bye the previous round.

COACH'S TAKE

Stoughton Coach Mike Armour is excited to be able to play a home playoff game for the first time since 2002.

"It's just a pretty cool thing. It means a lot to us.We are excited to have it, hopefully we have a good turnout and a lot of fans come out and have some fun, and hopefully we play a good game."

Armour knows the challenge ahead of his team Friday afternoon.

"I know that they are a good team. And I know they play against good teams comparable to us. I know it's going to be a battle, and we are expecting a battle. We are worried more about us, and what we need to do on our end to hopefully come out victorious on Friday."

Knights fans can expect to see much of the same personnel wise heading into the tournament.

"Pretty much the same thing going. The bats have cooled off a little towards the end. We want good defense, good pitching, making plays for our pitchers and then hopefully have some quality at bats, make them work and hopefully get more runs across the dish then they do."

Armour has declared the game an "orange out". The team is asking Stoughton fans to wear orange to the game, in support of the Knights.