By John Orrell, Contributing Writer
Marlborough/Worcester – Things can unravel fast in the game of baseball where at one point a team can be dominant only to have things change in a hurry with not-so-positive outcomes. The key to turn the tide is to bounce back with confidence that the positive vibes can be found to continue forward.
The Assabet Valley Regional Technical High School varsity baseball team found this out painfully in their contest with host Worcester Technical High School on May 1. Leading with a 2-0 margin entering the fifth frame, the Aztecs seemed to have the Eagles offensively frustrated and in their sights until a 13-run inning erased all of that.
Assabet would fall in this one, 13-2, to even their season record at 4-4 as the midpoint of the season fast approaches. While disappointed with the outcome, Aztec players vow to shake this one off and return strong against oncoming opponents.
“We’re a talented team,” said a poised and mature senior co-captain Jim Cappello, who agreed to remain post-game to discuss. Cappello tossed four shutout innings with six strikeouts before things gave way. “I think we’re at the point where we have to decide if we’re really going to push to get to the post-season or we’re playing for the younger guys. We, as seniors, really want to make some noise and we feel like we have the team to do it.
“We’re a really close-knit group. We’re all friends. It’s enjoyable to go to practice every day and hang out with these guys. We have good chemistry and that’s really a good thing. Defensively, we can be a really strong team. That’s where we are most talented despite what happened today.”
Assabet scored its runs in the opening frame when Tyler Dossas reached on a fielder’s choice before coming across on brother James Dossas’s RBI double. Dossas then scored on an RBI single by Santo Taylor for a 2-0 advantage.
“Going to the playoffs would be great,” said senior co-captain Chris McBreen, currently batting a robust .364, when asked of the team’s chances to make a stretch run to qualify for post-season play. “That’s been our goal from the start of the season. Jimmy (Cappello) and I know what it’s like to play in Districts and we want to be able to feel that but we’ve got to be more mentally strong if that’s going to happen.”
One highlight early in the 2017 season was a 16-5 shellacking of Southbridge High in the Aztec Invitational Tournament on April 20 held at the Assabet campus. The sweep was an early-season boost that raised momentum for the team.
“We have to work hard at practice and put the wheel to the grindstone,” affirmed McBreen of games that lie ahead. “We’re a very loose group. We have guys that are always laughing and smiling and then everyone gets into it. We take baseball very seriously but sometimes you have to make sure there’s an element of fun to be a successful team.”
Members of the 2017 Assabet Valley Regional Technical High School varsity baseball team are seniors James Cappello, Brandon Gorman, Chris McBreen, Jordan Dossas, Dylan Rourke, Corey Daly, Santo Taylor, Ryan Steeves; juniors Zach Murnane, Brandon Corfey, Joe LeDuc and AJ Vorce; sophomores James LaClaire, Jake Girard, Isaac Wagner, Hunter Stone along with freshmen Tyler Dossas, Andrew Smith, and Jake Naples.