Concord-Carlisle Baseball Loses Fourth Against A-B

Trailing by three runs in the sixth inning, the Concord-Carlisle High School baseball team appeared ready to mount a rally against Acton-Boxborough High School (1-2). Brendan Canavam doubled home teammate Brendan Harrington to get the Patriots on the scoreboard.

But the comeback was not meant to be, and C-C fell to their Dual County League rival 3-1 on Wednesday morning. It was the fourth loss of the young season for the Patriots.

“It was a good game,” said CCHS coach John Kelly. “You know, we played good defense, we pitched very well, we just didn’t hit the ball enough.”

The Patriots (0-4) had two bases-loaded opportunities – one in the top of the fourth and a second in the top of the fifth – but weren’t able to capitalize.

In the fourth, behind 2-0 against A-B pitcher Ryan McDonald, Concord-Carlisle found a way to put men on all bases. With a Patriot already on first base, Andrew Della Volpe hit a single and Derrick Amodei followed with a walk. Aaron Nickelsberg was at bat with two outs, but couldn’t get a hit, and the inning ended on the third strike.

The Pats were still down two in the top of the fifth. Again they loaded the bases, but again couldn't push anything across.

Adam Koski singled and then Gibson Holland was hit by a pitch and was lifted for pinch-runner Andrew Gaudet. A wild pitch then advanced Koski to third and Gaudet to second.

A walk then brought on a pitching change for the Colonials, putting Thulani Denaro on the mound. Della Volpe came up to the plate, but got the third out for C-C.

“It’s frustrating as a coach,” Kelly said of the missed chances, “but as long as they go up there aggressive, put the bat on the ball then I’m happy ... as long as they’re going up there knowing that they have a purpose and that they’re aggressive and they’re trying to get the runs in, then that’s all I can ask.”

Acton-Boxborough opened the scoring in the second inning on Brian Bowler’s two-run double to center field off C-C’s Alex Gutwillg. Denaro scored from third and Devin Santilli from first base, putting A-B up 2-0.

A-B added its third score in the bottom of the fifth, again against Gutwillg, when Jared Tamulynas ran across the plate on Garrett Rosich’s triple to left field.

Despite A-B’s three runs against Gutwillg, Kelly thought the pitcher played impressively.

“Fantastic,” the coach said. “His last two starts have been great. He’s really pounding the strike zone. He’s a very effective pitcher for us and he’s going to see a lot of innings.”

Concord-Carlisle looks for its first win on Monday at 4 p.m. at Arlington High School.

“Hopefully a better hitting approach,” coach said in regards to what he wants the team to improve on for Monday. “Everything else, every other part of our game was fine.”