BC High Breaks out the Bats to Take Down St. John's

By John McGuirk (@PatsFan1313)

SHREWSBURY, Mass. -- In its first two games this season, BC High had showed minimal signs of an offense. In spite of some solid pitching, the Eagles had become inconsistent at the plate in the early going, scoring just two total runs.

On Saturday morning, with temperatures climbing into the mid-60s, so too, did BC High's bats warm up. Banging out eight hits and driving in runners during key opportunities, the Eagles were able to upend St. John's (Shrewsbury) 4-1 at Pioneer Field.

Central Catholic Baseball Opens Season with Route of St. Peter-Marian

By John McGuirk (@patsfan1313)

Haverhill, Mass. - With a majority of the local pundits already enthroning Central Catholic as a team of destiny this season, it is certainly hard to argue with that prognostication at the moment.

Backed by solid pitching, and showing tremendous patients at the plate, the Raiders, ranked the No. 1 team in Eastern Mass and a clear-cut favorite to win a Super 8 championship, opened their season in fine fashion Sunday, with a convincing 13-0 rout of St. Peter-Marian at chilly Trinity Stadium.  

Now the Ace: Sean Burke ready to Embrace New Role Atop Pioneers Rotation

Maryland commit and St. John's (Shrewsbury) star Sean Burke is now alone as the Pioneers ace.

By Matt Feld (@Mattyfeld612) 

St. John’s Shrewsbury’s 2017 season ended the way many thought it would.

Leading St. John’s Prep 5-4 in the top of the ninth inning of the Division 1A “Super Eight” finals, Pioneers’ ace Ian Seymour spun an 0-2 changeup past Tyler MacGregor to begin the celebration.

Catcher Jack Gardner embraced Seymour and the rest of the St. John’s squad that overwhelmed the opposition for most of the season followed.  A loaded senior class that included Gardner, Seymour, number two-starter Matt Stansky, and shortstop David Turco capped off their career in picture perfect fashion.

Sean Burke, who came charging in from first base, however, is back for his senior season ready to lead St. John’s back to another dog pile. 

MIAA Baseball Top 25 Poll: 2018 Preseason

St. John's Prep is hoping 2018 is finally its year to bring home the Super Eight title.

By SuiteSports Staff 

Our Preseason MIAA Baseball Rankings, as selected by our team of editors and correspondents. 

1. Central Catholic (Last Year: 20-4) Coming off their first Super Eight appearance, the Raiders return all the components of a team primed for a deep June run.  

2. St. John’s Shrewsbury (Last Year: 22-4): The defending Division 1A Super Eight champions certainly lost a large part of last year's success to graduation, but Sean Burke and Nick McDonald are at the center of a strong returning core.

MIAA Baseball Season Preview: St. John's Shrewsbury Ready to Defend Super Eight Title

Nick McDonald (pictured) and Sean Burke will to lead defending champion St. John's back to the Super Eight.

By Matt Feld (@mattyfeld712)

St. John’s Shrewsbury was crowned the Division 1A “Super Eight” champion just nine months ago, but Charlie Eppinger’s squad has already put it in the rearview mirror.

Despite graduating a loaded senior class that included the likes of now Virginia Tech left-hander Ian Seymour and catcher Jack Gardner, the Pioneers are expected to compete for another title.

Maryland bound Sean Burke and Bryant commit Nick McDonald are as good a 1-2 rotation punch as any in Massachusetts while Jake Hamel highlights a terrific Pioneers’ infield.

Pat Moriarty Prepares to Take Over Deerfield Academy Baseball

Coach Pat Moriarty with his family last season.  Photo by Dave Bloniarz.

By John McGuirk (@patsfan1313)

SPRINGFIELD - When the opportunity presented itself, Pat Moriarty simply could not let it pass by.

Having spent nearly half of his life at one place, Moriarty, and his family, began to generate some discussion regarding life down the road and what lied beyond the hedges.

As if it were fate, a lifestyle altering opportunity did arise. Albeit much quicker than expected.

Last month, Moriarty, the longtime head baseball coach at former Cathedral High School, now Pope Francis High School in Springfield, was offered and accepted the same position at prestigious Deerfield Academy. A chance to coach at such a highly-reputable academic institution like Deerfield does not come about too often. So, once Moriarty discovered the head coaching position had become vacant, he immediately spun into action.

SuiteSports' 2017 MIAA Baseball All-State Team

Along with making the Super 8 finals, both St. John (Shrewsbury) and St. John's Prep are represented on our first ever all-state team.

By SuiteSports Staff

Earlier today, SuiteSports unveiled its first ever MIAA Baseball Player of the Year. As the recipient of the award, BC High junior RHP Mike Vasil is also the first member of our all-state team, and you can read more about him here.

For the rest of our all-state selections, continue below.

SuiteSports' 2017 MIAA Baseball Player of the Year

By SuiteSports Staff

SuiteSports.com and its panel of high school sports correspondents are pleased to announce today that Mike Vasil, a junior right-handed pitcher out of Boston College High School, is the recipient of the first ever “SuiteSports MIAA Baseball Player of the Year” award, given to the top high school baseball player in Massachusetts.

Vasil was selected among a number of candidates for the award who showcased their talents both during the regular season and in the state tournament.

The Eagle ace joins Cambridge center Dimon Carrigan (basketball) and Duxbury quarterback Bobby Maimaron (football) as other SuiteSports Player of the Year award winners during this high school sports year. As our Player of the Year, Vasil is the first member of our 2017 MIAA Baseball All-State team, which will be released later today in its entirety.

A Super 8 for Every Sport? Girls' Lax & Closing the Book on Spring Sports

Cohasset's Elle Hansen leads a fast break against Walpole in Saturday's Division 2 state championship game.   Photo by Brendan Hall.

By Joe Parello (@HerewegoJoe)

With Saturday's MIAA state championship marathon, spring sports, and the 2016-2017 HS sports year, came to a close. It was an interesting spring, to be sure, and here are a few wandering thoughts I've had as we close the book on this season.

The Super 8-ification of MIAA Sports

The Super 8 is great. I know this, you know this, we all know this. It's worked tremendously well for hockey, and the last few years have proven that it works very well for baseball as well.

As far as crowning a "true state champion," there are few better ways to do it. It seems inevitable that we will soon hear rumblings about a Super 8 for darn near every sport, and in most cases, I wouldn't object.

Your 2017 "All-Super Eight" Team

Super Eight champion St. John's (Shrewsbury) is well represented on our "All-Super Eight" Team.   Photo by Tom Joyce

By Matt Feld (@mattyfeld612)

Wednesday night signaled the conclusion of the Division 1A “Super Eight” tournament as St. John’s Shrewsbury captured the title with a thrilling 5-4 victory over St. John’s Prep.

Throughout the tournament, a number of players from all eight teams made their presence known by leading their respective team on a memorable run, or standing out via a single game performance.

So, without further ado, SuiteSports is excited to unveil its All Super Eight team, in which we recognize those players who stood out over the course of the tournament.

Make sure to check back in early next week when we will unveil our 2017 MIAA Baseball All-State team, as well as our Player of the Year.

RADIO: St. John's Wins the Super 8, Grafton Lax Headed Back to BU

By Joe Parello (@HerewegoJoe)

On this week's episode of "The Local Sports Lunchbox" on WPKZ, a pair of SuiteSports reporters called in to discuss the biggest Central Mass high school games of the week.

First, our Connor Evans phones in to break down Grafton's thrilling triple-overtime win over Dover-Sherborn, and look ahead to the Indians' Division 3 state final against Ipswich. What to expect from that game, including Connor's "X-factor" player for Saturday.

Then, former Monty Tech lacrosse coach Jonathan Shea joined us to talk about building a lacrosse program at a Voke school, with all the unique challenges presented there. Which players helped him guide Monty Tech to back-to-back state tournament appearances, and the program's first playoff win this season. Plus, coach Shea offers his thoughts on the state of Central Mass lacrosse in general.

Finally, our Tom Joyce joins me to re-live St. John's (Shrewsbury)'s historic Super 8 baseball win against St. John's Prep. How did the Pioneers live up to their lofty pre-season expectations, and what was the mood after St. John's finally won the big one?

You can hear all that, and much more, on this week's show below.

St. John's (Shrewsbury) Completes Journey with Super 8 Title

By Tom Joyce (@TomJoyceSports)

BROCKTON - Ian Seymour had no problem recording a five-out save.

Starting pitcher Matt Stansky cruised through his first six innings of work for the St. John’s (Shrewsbury) baseball team, but he was pulled in the seventh inning. In the eighth, the Pioneers lead began shrinking.

They surrendered a leadoff single, followed by an RBI triple and a sacrifice hit which cut the team’s lead to 5-4 over St. John’s Prep with one out in the inning.

Seymour then came in so he could protect the one-run lead in a high leverage moment. Because of that, the Pioneers came away with the Super 8 title on Wednesday night at Campanelli Stadium.

Your MIAA Baseball Super 8 Final Preview

St. John's Prep rolls into its third consecutive Super 8 final, but the Eagles will have to defeat top-seeded St. John's (Shrewsbury) to win the title.

By Matt Feld (@mattyfeld612)

The Division 1A "Super Eight" tournament began back on May 31st, with each of the eight teams starting a journey that they hoped would end in a dog pile at Campanelli Stadium.

That eight-team field has winnowed to two, as St. John’s (Shrewsbury) and St. John’s Prep will face off in the Super Eight final on Wednesday night.

St. John’s (Shrewsbury), the season-long favorite to win the title, has won their first three games in the tournament. In the first round the Pioneers squeaked past eighth seeded Belmont, 3-1, before defeating BC High and St. John’s Prep to reach the final.

It will be the Pioneers' first state final appearance since facing BC High in the 2009 Division 1 State Final.

St. John’s Prep, meanwhile, won their first two games over Newton North and Central Catholic, before faltering in the Super Eight semifinals. The Eagles quickly recovered though, coming back from a 3-0 deficit to defeat BC High, 9-7, in an elimination game to reach the finals.

The appearance in the finals is the third consecutive such trip for the Prep. The Eagles certainly hope this one goes far better than the last two where in each case they won the first game of the series in dominating fashion only to fall in game two.

Standing as the lone undefeated team, St. John’s (Shrewsbury) holds a significant advantage. St. John’s Prep will not only have to beat the Pioneers on Wednesday night, but beat them a second time in a potential game two that would be played on Thursday night in order to claim the title for themselves.

Here is how we expect Wednesday’s Super Eight Final to unfold.

BC High Hangs on to Eliminate Braintree from Super 8

By Matt Feld (@mattyfeld612)

BROCKTON - For the first time in the Division 1A Super Eight tournament's history, a Bay State Conference team will not take home the trophy.

Trailing No. 4 BC High 11-10 in the top half of the ninth, Braintree sent three-hitter Alex Kennedy to the plate with two on and two outs in hopes of coming away with another one of their notorious comeback victories.

Eagles’ reliever Gavin Reily, however, induced a pop up to third base that landed in the glove of freshman Pat Roche to seal the win as BC High (15-9) defeated the two-time defending champion Wamps, 11-10, in the Super Eight quarterfinals at Campanelli Stadium in Brockton.

With the win BC High advances to the Super Eight semifinals, while Braintree’s season comes to an end.

Super 8 Semifinals Preview

By Matt Feld (@mattyfeld612)

On Thursday evening, Braintree joined St. John’s Prep and St. John’s Shrewsbury as three of the four teams who will be a member of this year’s Division 1A Super Eight “final four”.

The Wamps, who won consecutive games against eight seeded Belmont and three seeded Central Catholic facing elimination, now await the winner of BC High and Xaverian to see who they will play on Sunday.

The Eagles and Hawks are set to faceoff Saturday morning at Campanelli Stadium with each looking to make their second trip in three years to the Super Eight quarterfinals.

In the afternoon, meanwhile, the two remaining undefeated teams in the field will go head-to-head with top seeded St. John’s Shrewsbury taking on familiar foe St. John’s Prep.

Here is how we expect the two games to unfold.

Braintree Holds Off Central Catholic to Keep Super 8 Title Defense Alive

By Matt Feld (@mattyfeld612)

BROCKTON - In the blink of the eye, the two time-defending champions have put themselves back in the conversation for a three-peat.

One day after pulling off a miraculous comeback to remain alive, John Tellier kept Braintree’s season going, throwing a complete game as the No. 5 Wamps defeated No. 3 Central Catholic, 5-2, in a Division 1A Super Eight elimination game on Thursday afternoon at Campanelli Stadium in Brockton.

The win advances Braintree (16-7) to the Super Eight quarterfinals against the winner of BC High and Xaverian. Central Catholic (18-5) is eliminated from the tournament.

Taconic Baseball Edges Pope Francis in D1 West Pitching Duel

By John McGuirk (@patsfan1313)

SPRINGFIELD - After the final out was recorded, and the traditional handshakes and goodbye hugs were done, Pope Francis coach Pat Moriarty took a stroll all by his lonesome across the Forest Park diamond one last time.

Wanting to spend a few minutes to gather himself, Moriarty had come face to face with the reality that he had coached his final game in a Cardinals uniform.

Having announced earlier this season that he, along with his family, will be moving to Deerfield Academy, where he will be taking over the head coaching responsibilities there beginning next season, Moriarty was trying to come to grips with it all.

Making things more difficult was the fact that his team had just been eliminated from the Division 1 Western Mass. tournament, falling to Taconic 1-0 Wednesday afternoon in eight innings.

SuiteSports MIAA Baseball Player of the Year Watch List

BC High ace Mike Vasil has been stellar all season for the Eagles.

By SuiteSports Staff

The MIAA Division 1A “Super Eight” tournament and state tournaments are well underway, and that it means the baseball season is slowly coming to a close.

A number of players have left their mark on the 2017 season through memorable pitching performances, jaw dropping stat lines, and being able to single-handedly carry their team to postseason excellence.

There a select few, however, that have caught the attention of every spectator who has seen them perform.

SuiteSports is proud to release the candidates up for our very own “player of the year” award, which will be announced following the conclusion of postseason play.

Here are the candidates up for the award.

Your Do-or-Die Monday Super 8 Preview

The two-time defending Super 8 champion Braintree Wamps face elimination today.   Photo by Brendan C. Hall for ESPN Boston.

By Matt Feld (@mattyfeld612)

For the second time in the four-year history of the MIAA Division 1A Super Eight tournament, the top four seeds won their opening round games and advanced to the winners bracket.

Number one seed St. John’s (Shrewsbury) squeaked past eighth seeded Belmont 3-1, while four seed BC High knocked off two-time defending champion and fifth seeded Braintree. On the other side of the bracket, two seeded St. John’s Prep dominated seventh seeded Newton North, 18-3, and three seed Central Catholic took care of business against sixth seeded Xaverian, 11-2.

The tournament continued on Sunday with St. John’s (Shrewsbury) topping BC High and St. John’s Prep besting Central Catholic in the winners bracket. Both St. John's squads are off to the semifinals, while BC High and Central Catholic are now one game away from elimination.

But today the one-loss bracket begins with Newton North and Xaverian going head-to-head, and Braintree playing Belmont. In each of those contests, one team will see its Super 8 dreams end. Here's how we see do-or-die Monday shaking out.

Seymour Pitches St. John's (Shrewsbury) Past Belmont in Super 8

St. John's ace Ian Seymour (pictured here against St. John's Prep earlier this year) opened his Super 8 with a stellar performance.

By John McGuirk (@patsfan1313)

SHREWSBURY - Anytime Ian Seymour is handed the baseball, the odds of St. John's (Shrewsbury) winning rise quickly.

Not by accident, Seymour has blossomed into one of the top pitchers in the state. His fastball, change up and slider have become so recognizable that Virginia Tech wasted no time getting him to sign on the dotted line for next season. But before the senior can exhibit his talents in the ACC, Seymour still has unfinished business to attend to with the Pioneers.

During Thursday's opening round Super 8 tilt versus Belmont, the left-hander took care of business, putting forth a complete game effort to stymie Belmont 3-1 at Pioneer Field.

Seymour pitched all nine innings, allowing an earned run on six hits, striking out eight and issuing one intentional walk on a pedestrian 90 pitches. Simply put, the Marauders were left baffled all afternoon long.