HUDSON – Hudson’s lead was incredibly narrow, but with Connor Madden on the bump, it remained remarkably safe.
No. 3 Hudson Post 100 scored early against No. 2 Milford Post 59 during the American Legion Zone 4 semifinal game on Saturday night at Guidotti Field, but after pulling ahead 1-0, couldn’t produce any additional offense. It was Madden – a right-handed pitcher and 2023 graduate of Hudson High School – who proved to be the hero, shutting down Milford, maintaining Post 100’s one-run lead, and ultimately sending Hudson to the Zone 4 finals, which will be played throughout the next week.
“Connor – he’s one of our guys. It meant a lot to him out there. This is probably his last start at this field, so I can’t imagine something meaning more to him than going and throwing a shutout there. It’s huge,” Hudson Post 100 Head Coach Ryan Bowen told the Community Advocate after the game as his team continued to celebrate the big win.
Effectively mixing his fastball, cutter, slider, and changeup, Madden kept Milford off-balance throughout his complete-game performance. He made quick work of the first few frames – throwing only 32 pitches through the first three innings – and surrendered only two hits throughout the game, striking out six. Each inning ended with high-fives from teammates.
“I might not be able to pitch going forward, this might be my last year. This was potentially one of my last games, and going out there and winning it for the team is just everything you can ask for. It’s everything,” Madden said. “I noticed what [Milford was] swinging at and what they were being aggressive on. I capitalized on it early and I was just able to go out there.”
Although Madden pitched a gem, it wasn’t without some high-pressure moments. Ahead 1-0 in the sixth inning, Milford earned two walks to start the frame. After a strikeout and sacrifice bunt, Bowen chose to intentionally walk the Post 59 batter to load the bases, allowing his team to get the all-important third out at any base. The move could’ve backfired – one walk or hit-by-pitch would’ve tied the game – but Bowen made the call because, as he said, “we have lots of confidence in Connor.”
Madden proved the confidence was well earned. Though the Milford batter made strong contact with the ball, he got under the pitch. Hudson’s Marshall Kehlhem tracked the ball deep into the outfield to register the third out, stopping Post 59’s only rally.
“I had to throw strikes. I had a great defense behind me … I knew someone was going to make the play,” said Madden.
Madden’s performance was the second Post 100 shutout in two days. On Friday night, Hudson pitchers Teddy McFarland and Michael Atwater threw a combined two-hitter against Milford as Post 100 topped the team 14-0. Zone 4 semifinal games are played as a best-of-three-game series. Hudson won the first two matchups to advance to the finals.
Hudson’s lone run on Saturday was scored in the first inning. Kehlhem singled to open the game, promptly stole second, tagged up on Bobby Long Jr.’s fly out, and scored on Chase Donahue’s single. Post 100 totaled six hits in this contest.
Hudson now advances to play in the best-of-three-game championship series against top-seeded Leominster Post 151 or No. 4 North County Post 129. Leominster and North County are playing a winner-take-all game on Sunday morning for the right to advance.
Whatever the matchup, Hudson said they’ll be ready to fight.
“We’ve hung in with teams all year … There’s not a team in this league I don’t think we can hang with. That’s a testament to our guys and the way that we play. Whatever way the road takes us, that’s the way we’ll go,” said Bowen.
“It means everything. We’re dogs around here – we fight, we fight for everything,” Madden said.
