Jake Noviello is SuiteSports' 2018 MIAA Baseball Most Valuable Player

Photo courtesy of Ryan Lanigan (@R_Lanigan/HockomockSports.com)

By Matt Feld (@Mattyfeld612)

This past Saturday, the MIAA Baseball season officially came to a close with three state champions crowned out at Holy Cross. 

Now, following a spring of eye-opening individual performances, Suite Sports is excited to announce Franklin right-hander Jake Noviello as its Most Valuable Player for the 2018 season. Noviello was chosen from a deep pool of candidates with the help of our panel of writers, correspondents, and editors, as well as numerous opposing coaches and players. 

He joins 2017 winner Mike Vasil as the two players to take home the award.

Jake Noviello's Fire Fueling Panthers' Super Eight Run

Jake Noviello (pictured) is the heart and soul of a Franklin team that is proving everyone wrong. 

Photo by Ryan Lanigan (HockomockSports.com)

By Matt Feld (@Mattyfeld612)

On Memorial Day, Jake Noviello toed the rubber fully knowing that Franklin’s dreams of a Super Eight appearance hung onto his right arm.

The right-hander had been waiting for this opportunity for four years and he stared at in the final athletic season of his high school career. It was a chance that the competitiveness in him was never going to let fly.

Noviello turned in one of the finest performances of his career going eight innings allowing just one run on six hits while striking out a dozen in a 6-1, nine-inning Franklin win over North Attleboro. As Noviello walked off the mound for the final time he pumped his fist as he had done numerous times prior. The face of the program had just led them to history.

“We’re really fortunate to have Jake Noviello in our program the last four years,” said Franklin coach Zach Brown. “He has done everything to be an integral part of our program. He has been our ace the last three years and he has been through it all.” 

Franklin Knocks off St. John's Prep, Becomes Lowest Seed to Win First Two Super Eight Games

By Matt Feld (@Mattyfeld612)

Franklin made program history on Wednesday, but with a win on Saturday they have now made Super Eight history.

With the No. 7 Panthers and No. 3 St. John’s Prep tied 4-4 in the top of the eighth, Scott Elliot drilled a two-out three triple into right centerfield to give Franklin a 7-4 lead. After Mike Yarin launched a two-out two-run home run to right to pull the Eagles within one, Panthers’ ace Jake Noviello came on and induced a groundout to second base as Franklin defeated St. John’s Prep, 7-6, on Saturday afternoon at Campanelli Stadium.

The win advances Franklin to the Super Eight semifinals on Wednesday night. They are the lowest seeded team ever to advance to the winner’s bracket portion of the semifinals.

MIAA Baseball: Top Performances From the Opening Round of the Super Eight

Cam Schlittler threw six innings of three-run ball to keep eighth-seeded Walpole in the game.

By Matt Feld (@Mattyfeld612)

The first round of the Division 1A Super Eight brought with it plenty of big-time performances and surprises.

Mike Vasil outlasted Walpole ace Cam Schlittler as No. 1 BC High topped No. 8 Walpole, 4-0. Third-seeded St. John’s Prep received eight strong innings from Jake Sanderson and a pair of RBI hits from Sean Lang en route to a 7-3 win over No. 6 Lexington. 

Central Catholic took advantage of a couple of Mansfield mistakes and got six innings from Nate Carpenter in an 8-3 win to set up a quarterfinal bout with BC High. In the only upset of the day, No. 7 Franklin a run in the top of the eighth and three in the ninth to break a 4-4 tie and knockoff No. 2 Wachusett, 8-5.

Here are our top performances from the first round of the Super Eight.