#8 MDI Upsets #1 John Bapst!

The #8 MDI Trojans upset the #1 seeded John Bapst Crusaders Thursday afternoon, June 6th at the Winkin Complex at Husson University in a Class B Boys Baseball Quarterfinal Game! The Trojans defeated the Crusaders 2-0 in a game that took just under one and a half hours to play!

MDI got on the scoreboard first, as Jon Phelps was hit by a pitch, and went to third on a fielder's choice by Jack Sasner (4-3). Then Phelps scored on a ground out by Keegan McKim (second to first) and MDI led 1-0.

John Bapst had runners on first and third in the bottom of the first thanks to hits by Andy  Catlyn and Shawn Curran, but MDI pitcher Steven Hanscom bore down, and got Tom Burns to strike out, and Joe Archenbault to ground out to the shortstop stranding both runners.

Both pitchers, Steven Hanscom for MDI and Nolan Webber for John Bapst were rocking and firing. Hanscom only faced 27 batters, while Webber only faced 26 batters.

John Bapst had their best scoring opportunity in the 4th inning. After Tom Burns had flown out to Seth Young in right field, and Joe Archenbault grounded out to second, Josh Baker, the right fielder came to bat. He smoked a line drive to right field, and rounded second, and started to round third going for the inside the park home run. However he hesitated, then decided to go, and the perfect cut off throw from the second baseman Keegan McKim, from Seth Young had Archenbault by three steps. The MDI catcher Dylan Collins easily applied the tag for the third out.

It remained 1-0 until the sixth inning. Ryan Littlefield walked to start the inning and advanced to second base as Phelps walked as well. Jack Sasner sacrificed both runners along, grounding out to second. Then Keegan McKim hit a grounder to third, and Littlefield was caught off the base and the Bapst third baseman applied the tag, but he stayed in the run down long enough to allow Phelps to get to third. Then Phelps broke for home, stealing home, sliding safely under the tag and MDI led 2-0!

MDI has played small ball all season long, and it allowed them to win the opening quarterfinal game! MDI had 2 runs, and 2 hits, and left 3 runners on base. John Bapst had 0 runs, 5 hits and 4 runners left on base.

Steven Hanscom ended up with 4 strikeouts and didn't allow any walks. He hit 2 batters. Nolan Webber struck out 3, walked three, and hit 1 batter.

John Bapst finishes the season at 14-3. MDI improves to 11-7 and will play Waterville who defeated Camden Hills 10-4, on Saturday, weather permitting.