Black Knights Top Oliver Ames Baseball

The Stoughton High baseball team defeated Oliver Ames, 6-2, on Monday afternoon for the first time in this batch of Stoughton senior's baseball careers. 

The win moves Stoughton (9-6) just one win away from a MIAA State Tournament berth with 5 games remaining on the schedule. Oliver Ames falls to 11-4. 

Oliver Ames had long had Stoughton's number, but on Monday, Stoughton finally broke through.

The Tigers struck first in the top of the second when senior Brad Fleming singled to right, then moved to second on a fielder's choice. An Alex Geba single to center scored Fleming giving Oliver Ames the early lead, 1-0.

Stoughton came right back in the bottom of the second when Mike Gallagher led off the inning with a base hit up the middle. A Pat Raeke triple to right scored Gallagher tying the game at one.

In the bottom of the third, Stoughton added two runs to increase the lead to 3-1. 

A Pat Jackman double to center, followed by Jackman moving to third on a fielder's choice allowed Will McGrath to bunt Jackman in, giving Stoughton the 2-1 lead. Mike Connelly then drew a walk and later scored when Gallagher tripled him in to give Stoughton a 3-1 lead.

Stoughton added an insurance run in the top of the fifth courtesy of a Jovani Pires double which scored Jackman, who singled to right in the previous at bat.

Oliver Ames got a run back in the top of the sixth thanks to an Andrew Mancini triple, and a sacrifice fly by Fleming to cut the lead to 4-2.

But Stoughton scored two more runs in the bottom of the sixth putting the game in the bag for the Knights. Back-to-back-to-back singles by Raeke, Kaleb Ballou, and a bunt by Mike Romaine, along with two passed balls gave Stoughton a 6-2 lead after six, which was the final margin of victory.

Brendan Welch pitched 5 1/3 innings for Oliver Ames allowing the six Stoughton runs.

Sam Werman tossed 5-plus innings for Stoughton, followed by two innings of shutout relief by Gallagher.