Baseball Tops QCC in Region 21 Tourney First Round, 9-1

BROCKTON, Mass. ---- Francisco Navarro fired a complete game five-hitter to lead the Massasoit baseball team to a 9-1 victory in the opening round of the Region 21 Tournament at the Frizzell Baseball Complex on Thursday afternoon.

Massasoit (16-16) advances to the winner's bracket of the double elimination tournament to face the Northern Essex/CCRI winner on Saturday at 1 PM at Fraiser Field in Lynn, Mass.

Navarro went the distance allowing only one run off five hits. The sophomore right-hander struck out four in best pitching performance of the 2022 season. Navarro pitched out of several jams, including getting a bases loaded inning-ending double play ground out in the third. In total, the righty forced Quinsigamond (6-8) to strand a total of 11 base runners.

The Warriors finished with 13 hits as a club, led by a perfect 3-for-3 day from Nick Hedlund. Jadon Ricci went 2-for-4 with two runs scored, double, triple and two RBI, while Kyle Cummings chipped in with a pair of base knocks in the win.

Massasoit broke a scoreless tie in the third as the Warriors manufactured a couple of runs, thanks to an RBI ground out by Nick Thibeault and sac fly from Max Kelley.

After Quinsigamond responded with its lone run of the game in the top of the fourth, Massasoit answered right back. Ricci came around to score on an RBI single by Eric McCallum and he would later score to push the lead to 4-1.

The game remained 4-1 until the last of the seventh when Massasoit put up a five-spot in the frame, highlighted by a two-run triple to Ricci and RBI single by Frankie Manon for the mercy rule victory.

The victory over Quinsigamond snaps a three-game postseason losing streak to the Wyverns as QCC ended Massasoit's seasons in 2017, 2018 and 2019.