Stoughton High Baseball Pulls Out Thrilling Win in Postseason Opener

Click here for a photo gallery from Friday's tournament win.

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He wasn't even on the varsity roster in the regular season, but when called upon as a pinch runner in the opening game of the postseason, JV call-up Robbie Weir delivered and scored the game-winning run in Friday's tournament game against Dennis-Yarmouth, giving the Stoughton High baseball team its first playoff victory since 2002.

Weir, a sophomore, came around from third on freshman Jake Gibb's bloop single to shallow right field in the bottom of the fifth inning, snapping a 4-4 tie. 

Overcoming an early deficit, sixth seeded Stoughton prevailed 5-4 over visiting Dennis-Yarmouth, the 11th seed, in an opening round game of the MIAA Division 2 South Sectional tournament.  

With the victory, the Black Knights (14-7) advance to play #3 Greater New Bedford Regional Vocational Technical High School Monday, June 3 at 4 p.m.

"The character that these guys have and the attitude and just the desire and leadership that they've displayed all week. Come to one of our practices and see different players step up in the huddle every time. Just makes you proud. I'm proud to be a part of it. Proud to coach these guys," Stoughton coach Mike Armour said. "Hopefully it's just the beginning." 

Liam Matheson and Mike Dunn doubled and tripled respectively to lead off the game for Dennis-Yarmouth, giving the Dolphins an early 1-0 lead. 

Two batters later, Stoughton turned a double play, but Dunn scored from third to give D-Y a 2-0 lead.

Stoughton wasn't fazed, however. 

The Black Knights responded with a run in the bottom of the first to cut the deficit in half. Pat Jackman led off with a bunt single on the first pitch, later coming around to score on a passed ball. 

SHS took the lead in the second. Will McGrath led off the bottom of the inning with a single and scored on a double from Kaleb Ballou to tie the game, 2-2. Ballou crushed the pitch to deep left centerfield, with the ball caroming off the fence. 

"When you hit a ball that hard, at least 380 feet off the base of the fence, that gets the whole team going," Armour said. "Kaleb had some great at-bats...and he was a catalyst for us."

With two outs in the inning, Jackman and Jovani Pires both walked to load the bases. Mike Connelly then singled, scoring Ballou and Jackman, giving Stoughton the 4-2 lead. 

But in a back-and-forth game, Dennis-Yarmouth tied the score 4-4 in the top of the third on consecutive singles by Mike Karras and Charlie Simmons. 

Stoughton loaded the bases with no outs in the bottom of the third, but could not capitalize. 

In the bottom of the fifth, with the score still tied at 4, Ballou singled for his third hit of the game. Weir came on to pinch run and stole second. Zach Gibb grounded out, but advanced Weir to third. Gibb's younger brother, Jake, then followed with the bloop single to score Weir in what turned out to be the game-winning play. 

Mike Gallagher came on in relief of Stoughton starter Mike Dixon to start the top of the fourth, and Gallagher tossed four innings of shutout ball. 

"Mike Gallagher is our best pitcher. it's tempting to start [Gallagher] in this type of game...[but] he hasn't been going seven innings a lot this year. Mikey Dixon I believe in fully. Have him get through three or four innings - just like he did - he got through three - figured it's a tie game; this is [Gallagher's] show. I wanted [Gallagher] in there in the late innings because he's the guy who can close the door," Armour said. 

It wasn't always easy - Dennis-Yarmouth had multiple runners in every inning, except the top of the seventh where Gallagher sent the Dolphins down in order to cap the win - but the junior got out of every jam and preserved the Stoughton lead. 

"He's been doing it since he was a freshman. he doesn't get rattled," Armour added. 

Gallagher was one of a number of players who seemed to elevate his game for the tournament, also getting on base three times (walk, double, single) and stealing a base. 

Jackman scored two runs and made a diving stop at shortstop to prevent a ground ball from reaching the outfield. The defensive gem saved a run. 

Connelly had two hits, two RBI, and tagged out a runner trying to score a home in a tie game. 

Jovani Pires reached base three times, including a double; Ballou had the aforementioned three hits; and McGrath reached base twice. 

Stoughton played before the largest home crowd of the season, with a nice showing of community support in the team's first home playoff game in more than a decade. 

The winner of the upcoming quarterfinal round matchup between Stoughton and Greater New Bedford will take on the winner of the quarterfinal round game between #2 Oliver Ames vs. #10 Sharon in the semifinals.  

Click here for a full D2 South bracket.