Despite an inconsistent start to the season (three wins in the first eight games), Taunton would finish 12-4 in the league, two games better than second-place Mansfield. It was an historic win for the school and head coach Jeff Sylvia was proud that his team could make a mark in the Hockomock League.
"Going into the season, I think that I was a lot more worried than the team was about moving to the Hockomock and the quality of baseball on a daily basis," said Sylvia, while being awarded the HockomockSports.com Coach of the Year award at RBI Academy.
He continued, "We stressed the importance of no letdown; doesn’t matter who we play or what division. I was fortunate to have two really outstanding pitchers [seniors Matt Nunes and Connor Johnson], which gave out team confidence."
"It was a great accomplishment and to be the first Taunton team in all sports to win the league is a tribute and I was really happy and proud of the team, of the seniors, and blessed for the school itself. It was a great accomplishment for all of us."
Ryan Lanigan detailed the win over Franklin for HockomockSports.com:
In just their first season in the Hockomock, the Taunton Tigers captured their first Kelley-Rex baseball title with a 3-2 win over Franklin.
Pinch hitter Mike Bunker opened the top of the seventh with a single into right center field and advanced to second on a sacrifice by shortstop Ben Clark. Up stepped junior lead off hitter Brad Alconada, who was 0-3 with three fly outs. The fourth time proved to be the charm for Alconada, who’s hit into left field scored Bunker from second for the eventual game winning run.
“I had been hitting the ball well all day,” Alconada said. “It was about time one of the balls I hit just fell.”
Taunton southpaw Connor Johnson – 6.0 innings pitched, 7 hits and just one earned run – emerged the winner in a great pitchers dual against Franklin’s Brendan Kuzio, who went 6.1 innings and struck out six with just two of the three runs charged to him.
“I thought both pitchers were pretty good,” Franklin head coach Dave Niro said. “We just came up short, that’s all. They were the better team today.”
The Tigers improve to 12-6 overall and an 11-4 league record with the season split with Franklin. With their 11th win, no team other large school can match their record and they win the Kelley-Rex outright.
“It means a lot,” Taunton head coach Jeff Sylvia said. “I can’t down play this at all. It meant we are the first Taunton team to win the Hockomock – that meant a lot to us. These kids have fought [and] they work hard everyday. I can’t be more proud of them as a team.”
The Taunton High baseball team made history on Friday night at Longley Field on the campus of Dean College. The Tigers 3-2 victory over Franklin clinched the team’s first ever Hockomock League, Kelley-Rex division title.
Of course, this is only the first year that Taunton has played in the Hock.
“It means a lot; I can’t downplay this at all,” said a jubilant Taunton head coach Jeff Sylvia shortly after being doused by the obligatory bucket of water.
He continued, “We controlled our own destiny and that was the best thing. We didn’t need any help. First time in the league and it means that we are the first Taunton team to win the Hockomock. We’re just very excited.”
In his ninth year coaching the team, Sylvia led the Tigers to a 14-8 overall record in the team's first year in the Hockomock League. He also guided Taunton to the team's first Kelley-Rex Divisional Title on their first try. Despite a rough start, the Tigers bounced back to win 11 of out 12 games from the middle to the end of the season, which included eight in a row from April 24th to May 13th.
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