Stoughton High Baseball Picks up Key Win Against Foxboro

In what was essentially a must-win game for the 5-8 , the Black Knights came out with two runs in the first inning against Foxboro en route to a 4-0 win over the Warriors Monday afternoon .

With the victory, Stoughton improves to 6-8 and 3-2 in the Hockomock League's Davenport Division, climbing closer to the coveted .500 mark and securing second place in the Davenport. A .500 record or a top two finish in the division are the two ways Stoughton can qualify for postseason play.

"We're all aware of the situation, whether its us getting to .500 or us finishing in second place. We have a lot of young guys and we have some seniors contributing too. It would be very special for this team to get into the postseason by any means necessary," Stoughton coach Mike Armour said.

"We're approaching these league games as must wins and that's how we came into [Monday]. We got it done. We still have to battle but we we kind of hold our own fate."

With the loss, Foxboro falls to 4-10 but is still eligible for postseason play if they finish with at least a .500 record  against Division 3 opponents (Sullivan Rule).

After a scoreless top of the first, Pat Jackman and Mike Gallagher singled to lead off the bottom of the inning for Stoughton. Mike Connelly, batting third, singled to drive in Jackman. Cleanup hitter Pat Raeke then hit into a fielder's choice, which scored Gallagher, giving Stoughton the 2-0 lead.

Gallagher turned in another solid effort on the mound, tossing 4 and 1/3 no-hit innings, before surrendering his only hit of the game with one out in the top of the fifth. The sophomore struck out seven over six scoreless innings.

"He doesn't do anything flashy, but he goes at guys; he works fast; he gets himself in a good tempo. He has control of the strike zone and kept us off balance a little bit," Foxboro coach Billy Sittig said.

Pat Jackman drove in Zach Gibb in the bottom of the second to make it 3-0 and Jovani Pires scored Stoughton's final run in the fourth.

Mike Dixon relieved Gallagher in the seventh, preserving the shutout. 

"Our pitching and defense had been sound. It was just a question of getting our bats going," Armour said. "It was nice to get a few [runs.] It felt like we could have gotten a few more than we did - left a few on early on - but it was enough. Mike was throwing the ball well. Foxboro really couldn't get anything going against him."

The 4-0 win avenges Stoughton's .

Stoughton travels to King Philip on Friday, at team that beat Stoughton at SHS .