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WORCESTER, Mass. — The Algonquin High Schoool varsity baseball team fell short of its Cinderella story, losing the Division 1 state championship in a 7-1 pounding by Xaverian at Fitton Field on Saturday.
"It was a great season, but we struggled tonight," said Algonquin Coach Neil Burke. "(Xaverian's) four RBIs kind of killed it ... They got the big hits, we didn't."
Things had been looking good for Algonquin early on. The 10th seeded team scored in the top of the second, after Christian Miller's line drive single to centerfield brought home Vik Kozica.
But it was the only run the Tomahawks would get, and it was the only time Algonquin would lead.
Xaverian caught up in the fifth when Chris Hoyt doubled off Tomahawk's pitcher Luke Serra with a hit deep into right field that sent Tyler Wolfe and Tyler Campo to home plate.
Algonquin couldn't respond with runs of their own in the top of the sixth, and the game's momentum shifted permanently to Xaverian.
In the bottom of the sixth, an Algonquin error on first base allowed Xaverian's Alex Person, who had previously doubled and then stolen third, to get home.
With Patrick Kane replacing Serra on the mound for Algonquin, Xaverian managed to load the bases with a walk. A single by Hoyt brought in two more runs for Xaverian, before the inning finally ended when the Tomahawk's Malik Daley caught Nick Ahearn's pop-fly in left field.
The downhill slide continued in the seventh, when Mike LaVita's pop-up sent Person, who was waiting at third, home.
It was a contentious game at times. In the bottom of the third, it looked as though Xaverian's Hoyt had successfully stolen second, but was sent back by the umpire. As coach Gerry Lambert argued with the official, Person, who was at bat, was declared out for interfering with a pitch.
In the end, however, Algonquin, which defied expectations throughout the postseason, was outplayed.
"We struggled just to get to the tournament," Burke said. "I'm very proud of our kids."
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