Taunton beats Catholic Memorial to advance to second D1 title game in three seasons – Taunton Daily Gazette

WORCESTER For the second time in four years, and the second time in three seasons, Taunton baseball is headed to the Division I championship game.

The No. 2 Tigers took down No. 3 Catholic Memorial 8-4 Tuesday in a Final Four matchup at Hanover Insurance Park at Fitton Field to book their spot in the title game.

I told the guys weve got to score one run an inning and if we can score at least seven runs, I like our chances, Taunton coach Blair Bourque said. Our pitching staff did a great job today throwing strikes and we made a lot of defensive plays and just execution with guys in scoring position coming up big.

The Tigers combined for eight runs on 11 hits, four walks and an error whilebatting around in the second inning, with seven of the batters stepping up to the plate in the inning with two outs on the board.

Theyshowed what theyre capable of offensively, Bourque said.That was a great pitcher and we put a lot of quality at-bats together. I was really proud of what they did and what theyve done so far.

The Tigers also got quality appearances out of three of their top pitchers. StarterShawn Cali earned the win, going two innings giving up two runs on three hits and a walk while striking out two. Ryan MacDougall tossed three full innings of relief, giving up two runs on four hits and two walks while striking out one and Colin Botelho closed it out strong as he went two shutout innings giving up a hit and a walk while striking out four.

I cant say enough about the pitching staff to come in with the way they were swinging it, Bourque said. We knew it was going to be a tough game and a tough battle and they were up for the task and Im really proud of what theyve accomplished so far.

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For Taunton, pitching has really been an all around team effort this year between a mix of different pitchers who each bring something different to the mound.

Weve kind of rode a lot of guys this year in terms of pitching and I dont think we really have that true ace that some other teams that are this deep have, but what we do have is a lot of competitors, guys that can compete on the mound and throw strikes and trust our defense and they showed what they can do today, Bourque said.

The Tigers, playing as the home team due to their higher seed, struck first in the bottom of the first as Braden Sullivan hit a single up the middle before coming home on a MacDougall double to the right center gap. Back to back singles loaded the bases, alowingMacDougallcame home on a groundout to third by Colby DeCouta to make it 2-0.

I think with that hit in the first we really set the pace of the game, so I think that was really big for all of our guys, including me, MacDougall said.It gave me a confidence boost and just set the tone of the game.

The Knights were ready to fight, however, and wasted little time responding in the top of the second. Gabe Malaret led off the inning with a single before John Gannon and Nolan Mullen both got out. Scott Longo walked, then a single to shallow left by Brett Mulligan drove in Malaret and a second single to right by Conor Coulter brought home Longo to bring CM back even at 2-2.

Looking to respond back just as fast, Evan Cali hit a first pitch single to start off the bottom of the second but was thrown out at second while trying to stretch it to a double by Coulter in center. A strikeout by Andrew Cali put the Tigers down two outs and it looked like the game was set to be a back and forth battle.

Then suddenly, momentum shifted.

Anerror by shortstop Nick DiRito saw Brayden Cali get on, which was followed up by an infield single from Sullivan and then a single to right by MacDougall to drive home Brayden Cali and give the lead back to Taunton. A single by Dawson Bruce and a walk to AJ Lewis followed to load the bases, and a walk to DeCouta saw MacDougall come home to make it 5-2.

MacDougall replaced Shawn Cali on the mound to start the third but three straight singles by Tom Goonan, Curt Boyd and Malaret saw the latter drive in Liam Lawn, pinch running for Goonan, to make it 5-3. A double steal on the next at bat saw Malaret take second while Boyd took advantage of the throw to come home and bring the Knights back within one.

That was the closest CM would come again to the Tigers however, as MacDougall adjusted his approach and retired six of the last seven batters he faced.

The first inning was tough but then I settled in, MacDougall said. I was throwing way too many fastballs but then I settled in and started throwing off-speed changeups and curveballs and they were working, so Im glad I settled in.

For Bourque, MacDougall keeping the opponent at bay while also scoring some runs of his own has become par for the course.

MacDougalls been our rock all year, both offensively and defensively, Bourque said.Hes the (Hockomock League) MVP for a reason. We trust him and he throws strikes. He had a couple big hits, a couple RBIs there that got us going early, so hes a big boy and he puts us on his back sometimes and he carried us today.

Tauntonadded another run in the top of the fifth as Evan Cali hit a triple to the deep right corner then came on a throwing error by the second baseman Mullen, who was acting as they cutoff man. They alsoplated two more runs in the sixth as Brayden Cali led the inning off with a single and MacDougall was intentionally walked, then pinch ran for by Jared Spencer, setting upBryce to hit a triple to the deep left corner and drive in both, solidifying the Tigers advantage with a 8-4 lead.

Botelho pitched the last two innings for Taunton and was lights out, retiring six of the eight batters he faced, three of which came after allowing a walk and a double to start the seventh as the Tigers booked their chance to play for the state title.

For Bourque, one of the biggest assets his team has is their consistent ability to come through in the clutch combined with a never give up attitude.

They compete, Bourque said. Theyve competed from an early age and theyre used to competing from an early age.

Its those lessons instilled early by the youth baseball coaches in Taunton that Bourque really credits for the continued success of the program.

I think its a testament to the program and then the youth program and developing players from an early age and making sure theyre ready when they come to us, so all the youth coaches do a great job and Im kind of just taking the torch and going with it, but they go really hard, Bourque said. Its all them, they deserve all the credit.

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Taunton now heads to the state championship game where they'll face a very familiar foe in Hockomock League rivals Franklin, the top seed in Division I who the Tigers beat 7-5 at home in their first outing at home in April but fell 7-1 on the road in May. The Panthers beat No. 4 Shrewsbury 4-3to book their spot in the title bout.

The championship game is set to be played Saturday, at 6 p.m., at LeLacheur Park in Lowell, home to the Div. 1UMass Lowell River Hawks college baseball team.

Its going to be tough, Bourque said. Its not going to be easy. Were going to have to play sound defensively, were going to need to make sure we make our pitches. Its a good team over there, theyre well coached and we know were going to be in for a battle.

For MacDougall, the only remaining player from the 2019 state championship team, he said while the Tigers have a young team, he feels they have what it takes to get the job done and claim another state title for the program as long as they keep playing like they have.

Im glad I (was on the 2019 team)and I learned a lot from it and were just going in and going to play it like a normal game and I think we can come out on top, MacDougall said. Weve got a good team so Im confident.

MacDougall led the way for Taunton on offense, going two-for-three with two runs and two RBIs while Bryce went three-for-four with two RBIs, Brayden Cali went one-for-three with two runs and Evan Cali went one-for-two with a run.

Drew Delucia took the loss for CM, going one and two-thirds innings giving up five runs (two earned) on eight hits and two walks while striking out three. Connor Nelson went three and two-thirds innings giving up an unearned run on three hits andtwo walks while striking out three before Tom Goonan went two-thirds of an inning, striking out both batters he faced.

The Knights were ledoffensively by Malaret, who went two-for-four with a run and RBI while Boyd went two-for-four with a run and Goonan went one-for-three with a run.

Taunton Daily Gazette sports reporter Cameron Merritt can be reached at cmerritt@tauntongazette.com. You can follow him on Twitter at @CamMerritt_News. Support local journalism by purchasing a digital or print subscription to the Taunton Daily Gazette today.

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Taunton beats Catholic Memorial to advance to second D1 title game in three seasons - Taunton Daily Gazette