MIAA Baseball: Final Thoughts From The 2018 Super Eight

By Matt Feld (@Mattyfeld612)

Coming into the season, Zach Brown knew he had the team to make a run at a Super Eight berth. Franklin accomplished far more.

After a slow start, the Franklin offense caught fire down the stretch and a final record of 17-5 to go with non-league wins over Catholic Memorial and Walpole landed the Panthers their first Super Eight selection. 

In the tournament, the seventh-seeded Panthers played their best baseball of the season. Despite currently holding just one scholarship player in Fairfield commit Jake Noviello, Franklin knocked off the best that Massachusetts has to offer taking down No. 2 Wachusett and No. 3 St. John’s Prep before defeating four seed Central Catholic twice to take home the Super Eight crown.

“It’s really special when you get everyone to buy in,” said Franklin shortstop Alex Haba. “Whether that means you’re doing the charts, or the scorebook, or in charge of the pitcher’s bag, or playing in the infield everyone has to do their part. It’s really hard to find a team that is able to do that, but this year everyone bought in on doing what they’re supposed to, and it got us home.”

With the tournament now officially in the books, here are some closing thoughts and one gripe on this year’s Super Eight tournament.

MIAA Baseball: 2018 "All-Super Eight" Team

By Matt Feld (@Mattyfeld612)

On Monday night, Franklin was crowded Division 1A Super Eight champions for the first time in school history. Not only is it a first for Franklin, but it also represents the lowest seed (7) to ever take home the Super Eight crown. 

With the tournament now completed, Suite Sports is excited to unveil its 2018 "All-Super Eight" Team, compiling the best pitchers and position players based on tournament play.

Check back in throughout the week for coverage across the remaining MIAA Baseball State Tournaments. Then, next week, Suite Sports will announce its 2018 MIAA Baseball All-State Team as well as its 2018 MIAA Baseball Player of the Year.

Franklin Puts Finishing Touches on Magical Season, Captures Super Eight Crown

By Matt Feld (@Mattyfeld612)

Brockton, Mass. – As Jake Noviello walked around the mound, the rain pouring down, he pondered back over his high school career. The Franklin ace was ready for a fairytale ending.

With the Panthers and Central Catholic tied at two in the bottom of the eighth inning, Noviello came in and struck out three consecutive hitters to leave the go-ahead run in scoring position. 

After an Evan Wendell suicide squeeze gave Franklin a one-run lead, Noviello went back to the mound and slammed the door as Franklin claimed the Super Eight title with a 3-2 win over No. 4 Central Catholic on Monday night at Campanelli Stadium.

MIAA Baseball: Super Eight Finals Primer and Pick

By Matt Feld (@Mattyfeld612)

A little over two weeks after the Super Eight field was announced, the Super Eight Final is set to take place on Monday night at Campanelli Stadium. In a rematch of Thursday night's winner's bracket semifinal, No. 7 Franklin (20-5, 3-0) will take No. 4 Central Catholic (18-6, 3-1). 

After trailing by a run for most of the night Thursday, Franklin rallied for a run with two outs in the ninth before scoring two in the tenth to give themselves the upper hand in this year's Super Eight Final. In order for Central Catholic to take home its first Super Eight crown it will need to defeat Franklin twice, while the Panthers can lock up a championship with a win on Monday night.

Keegan and Hajjar Lead Relentless Offensive Attack, Land Central Catholic Super Eight Final Berth

By Matt Feld (@Mattyfeld612)

Brockton, Mass. – Central Catholic’s dynamic duo of Dominic Keegan and Steve Hajjar made sure the Raiders quickly turned the page following Thursday night’s loss.

Keegan and Hajjar combined to go 7-for-10, with nine runs, four RBIs, and four extra base hits to lead No. 4 Central Catholic to a 16-9 win over No. 1 BC High in the Super Eight Semifinals on Saturday afternoon at Campanelli Stadium.

Central Catholic advances to the Super Eight Final against Franklin for the first time in program history. BC High finishes its season at 18-7.

MIAA Baseball: Super Eight Semifinal Preview and Pick, Sectional Final Predictions

By Matt Feld (@Mattyfeld612)

Beginning on Saturday morning, baseball teams across the Bay State will begin competing for sectional titles and Super Eight survival.

Out of the 14 sectional finals to be played this weekend, 12 will take place on Saturday with only Divisions 1 and 3 North scheduled for tomorrow at 3pm and 6pm. Also this afternoon at 1pm, Central Catholic and BC High are set to faceoff for the second time this postseason with a spot in the Super Eight Final on the line.

Here is our preview and pick for the Super Eight semifinal game from Campanelli Stadium. Continue below for our picks from all 12 sectional finals taking place later today.

MIAA Baseball: With Just Four Teams Remaining, our Preview and Picks for Today's Super Eight Games

By Matt Feld (@Mattyfeld612)

There are only four teams remaining in this year’s Super Eight tournament, and after Thursday afternoon that number will dwindle even further.

First up, No. 8 Walpole looks to win its third straight elimination game when they take on No. 1 BC High. The two met up in the opening round of the tournament with the Eagles coming away with a 4-0 win.

In the night-cap, seventh seeded Franklin faces off against No. 4 Central Catholic with a berth in the Super Eight Final on the line. The Panthers and Raiders have each scored a combined 15 runs over their first two games. While the winner will advance to the tournament's championship game, the loser will fall into the one-loss bracket and face the Walpole vs. BC High winner.

Here are our preview and predictions for today’s two Super Eight games down in Brockton.

MIAA Baseball: Preview and Picks for Today's Super Eight Elimination Games

By Matt Feld (@Mattyfeld612)

Four more Super Eight teams are trying to keep their seasons alive tonight when a pair of elimination games get underway at Campanelli Stadium in Brockton.

First, at 4pm, Walpole looks to win its second consecutive elimination game while St. John’s Prep looks to rebound from a quarterfinal loss to Franklin. Then in the night-cap, the top two seeds in No. 1 BC High and No. 2 Wachusett will battle it out for a right to advance to Wednesday afternoon.

Here are our previews and predictions for the two Super Eight elimination games set to get underway later todaty.

MIAA Baseball: Super Eight Opening Round Preview and Picks

St. John's Prep right-hander Jake Sanderson is expected to get the ball in game on.

Photo by Eamon Convey (@ConveyWEEI)

By Matt Feld (@Mattyfeld612)

Wednesday afternoon marks the opening round of this year's Division 1A "Super Eight" tournament. A number of intriguing matchups are on the table as No. 8 Walpole travels to No. 1 BC High, the only team with 20 wins in the tournament in Wachsuett hosts No. 7 Franklin, No. 6 Lexington heads up to No. 3 St. John's Prep, and Mansfield on a 15-game winning streak takes a trip to No. 4 Central Catholic.

Here are our previews and picks for the four opening round games. You can click here for our full Super Eight primer and tournament picks from yesterday.

MIAA Baseball: Super Eight Seeding and Matchups

Photo by Eamon Convey (@ConveyWEEI)

By Matt Feld (@Mattyfeld612)

Here is your 2018 Division 1A “Super Eight” as selected by the tournament committee just moments ago in Frankin

1. BC High 

2. Wachusett

3. St. John's Prep

4. Central Catholic

5. Mansfield

6. Lexington

7. Franklin

8. Walpole 

In line with the seeding, here are the four round one matchups that will take place on Wednesday, June 6^th. As of now, all games are scheduled to begin at 4pm.

No. 8 Walpole @ No. 1 BC High

No. 5 Mansfield @ No. 4 Central Catholic 

No. 7 Franklin @ No. 2 Wachusett

No. 6 Lexington @ No. 3 St. John's Prep 

MIAA Baseball: Super Eight Watch List

By Matt Feld (@Mattyfeld612)

The MIAA Division 1A Super Eight baseball committee released its initial Super 8 watch-list and so far 30 teams have caught the committee members attention.

There are a handful of lower division teams on the list including Northeastern Conference powers Beverly and Danvers as well as Div. 3 favorite Austin Prep. 

The committee is always careful to point out that this list is not final and that teams can play their way onto the list at any point in time during the season. Over the years the committee has always prioritized record, strength of schedule, and performance down the stretch.

Seven of the eight teams to appear in the field last year make the watch list. Heading into this season, Newton North, Braintree, St. John’s Prep, St. John’s Shrewsbury, BC High, and Xaverian were the six teams to make the tournament in at least three of the tournament’s four years. 

Here is the current watch-list in alphabetical order:

Andover

Austin Prep

Belmont

Beverly 

Boston College High School

Burlington

Braintree 

Brockton

Brookline

Catholic Memorial 

Central Catholic

Danvers 

Duxbury

Franklin

Lexington

Lowell

Mansfield

Masconomet

Medford

Minnechaug

Newton North

North Andover

North Attleboro 

Oliver Ames

Plymouth North 

Reading 

St. John’s Prep

St. John’s Shrewsbury  

Wachusett

Wellesley