Sharon Closes Season Strong, Misses Postseason

Reeling at 4-10 following six consecutive losses, the Sharon High baseball team found its backs pinned against the wall on May 19. Needing to win their final five games to earn a state tournament berth, the Eagles summoned their strongest push of the season and fell a single victory short, missing the postseason for the first time since 2009.

“The end of the season was positive,” said Head Coach Joel Peckham. “We didn’t make the tournament; obviously, that’s your goal before the season starts. But I’m pleased about how we responded, developed, and played well as a team. I felt good about the year.”

Senior captain Max Bauman said, “The final week of games was very action-packed; it included a few games that went into extras and a great comeback win in the last game of the season. We finally found confidence and swagger, and it almost propelled us to a playoff berth, but we fell just short.”

Prior to the final stretch of improved play, players’ lack of belief in their abilities hampered the squad, according to Bauman. Sharon began last week by defeating Davenport Division foe Foxboro that Monday in 10 innings, on Bauman’s walkoff hit. Senior captain Frank Sullivan followed the next day with a 10-strikeout shutout of Canton.

The Eagles then prevailed in 13-9 contest in Seekonk, before falling at home to Hamilton-Wenham on Sunday, 7-6, in an eight-inning ballgame, eliminating Sharon from postseason contention. The Eagles closed the slate with a 6-3 victory over Franklin on Memorial Day.

Peckham says that Sharon’s leaders rose to the occasion during the final week of the season. “It was a senior-oriented team, and I think their level of maturity, and their having been through a really competitive season last year [advancing to the Div. II South Semifinals], made a big difference.”

Senior captain Will Ginsberg said, “I think we finally found our groove after being a little inconsistent during the first 15 games of the season. We connected as a team and played great baseball.”

Peckham called losing the ballgame vs. Hamilton-Wenham “a real downer”, as the contest was one Sharon could have easily won, but the team failed to deliver hits in crucial situations.

The following day, with no hope of prolonging the Eagles’ season, Sullivan submitted another excellent performance on the hill, and Sharon mounted a comeback from an early deficit. Peckham was impressed with the Eagles’ resiliency during the ballgame. “I thought the team competed at a very high level. They were a real team, they were together,” he said.

The coach says that he believed that Sharon could have achieved success in a postseason run had the squad qualified. “The loss to Hamilton-Wenham was disappointing, because I think this team really deserved to be in the playoffs. I think we really could have competed really well and made some noise. But, hey, it didn’t work out,” Peckham said.

Viewing the season as a whole, junior Matt Shaffer says that the Eagles were close to putting together a complete package as a ballclub. “The Sharon varsity team this year had great potential and played a good season, and if a few more chances went our way, our season would have been outstanding,” Shaffer said.

Ginsberg cited Sharon’s pounding out 17 runs against Mansfield (April 29) and Sullivan’s domination of Canton as among the campaign’s highlights. Ginsberg also noted the Eagles’ resiliency in long games versus Foxboro (a week ago Monday) and Taunton (April 11) as a constructive component of the team.

The contest with the Tigers, a frigid home opener at Eagle Ballpark, was arguably the season’s most exciting, with Sharon scoring five runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to take down Taunton, 10-9. Sullivan’s two-out, two-run single provided the winning margin. Peckham told HockomockSports.com following the game, “That was one of the biggest wins in my 43-year career.”

Bauman said, “As a whole, I thought the season was exciting. We were in a lot of close games up to the end [of the season] and had a few different comeback wins, which were unbelievable to be a part of and witness.”

Ginsberg says that juniors Jacob Berish and Jacob Milley and senior Craig Beberman, all first-year varsity players, were among team members who stepped up for Sharon this season.

“Jacob Berish came and filled a huge relief role, shutting down hitters consistently. Jacob Milley came in after not seeing the field the first half of the year, and ended the year as arguably one of our best fielders. Craig came on and was better defensively than most, if not all, the outfielders. He was instrumental to our season,” Ginsberg said.

Ginsberg, a lefthander, was Sharon’s top pitcher, posting a 2.44 ERA in 57.1 innings. Bauman and senior first baseman Michael Birschbach tied for the team lead in batting, with .397 averages. Senior captain Drew Maidment knocked in a team-high 11 runs, and Ginsberg, in his first full season of batting, hit .304.

“Birschbach had an incredible year,” Peckham said of Sharon’s lone selection to the All-Hockomock League team. “He was just a force at the plate and did an outstanding job at first base.

“Max Bauman had a great second half, and in centerfield was consistent. Drew had a tremendous second half of the season. I was very pleased with what he was capable of doing, in terms of his leadership and catching,” Peckham added.

Peckham says that several of team’s underclassmen “really stepped up and played well. Berish did a nice job for us in relief. Matt Shaffer started to relax, play better, and hit the ball. He’s just starting to realize how good he can be, I think. Jacob Milley, when he took over at shortstop, was outstanding.”

He noted rising senior Ryan Riley and rising junior Isaac Milley as among the players who he expects to shine next season. “Isaac played a lot of second base and shortstop; he’s got tremendous potential and talent. Ryan Riley – he didn’t come as far as I thought he would be [as a righty on the mound], but hopefully next year, he’ll be a real stopper, a real force,” Peckham said.

Shaffer, Berish, and Milley were elected tri-captains for the 2015 edition of the Eagles. Shaffer said, “Hopefully, next year, we can get the team ready for varsity baseball sooner, so the team will 'click' sooner. I am hoping as captain to follow in the footsteps of the previous captains, using some of the positive techniques to make next year successful and fun.”

Bauman is optimistic regarding the baseball program’s prospects for the future. “As for next year, I think the team has a legitimate shot to make a deep run into the playoffs. [Sharon] has a ton of young talent returning and a lot of great leadership coming up from next year’s senior class,” he said.

Peckham had stated in prior years that 2014 would be his final season coaching, and said at the beginning of this season that he would decide following the campaign whether to return. On Wednesday, Peckham said that he intends to coach next season.

“I’m definitely coaching next year, as long as I’m allowed to,” Peckham said. “I’m not ready to give it up; I still enjoy coaching. I like the kids who I work with. I feel like I do a lot of positive things, am still on top of my game, and have a lot to offer.

“I’m not an egomaniac, but I think my knowledge of baseball and my ability to teach it is still at a point where I feel I should be around. I think I should do it. I have a great assistant coach [pitching coach Kee Arguimbau]; the two of us make a great team,” Peckham added.

Next year would be Peckham’s 43rd at the helm of the Sharon baseball program. Peckham coached the squad from 1965-7, before stepping down to earn his master’s degree in counseling. He reclaimed the head coaching position in 1975, which he has held uninterrupted to date.

Peckham, who says that he will be 74 when the 2015 season rolls around, noted that this year, two of his former players watched their sons play for the same man; Eric Ginsberg (father of Will) and Paul Shaffer (father of Matt) were members of Peckham’s teams in the 1970s-‘80s.

“I’m looking forward to next year,” Peckham said, “There’s never a day when I go to practice without a smile on my face; I’m glad to be there. I still enjoy the games, the competitive part of it.

“I’ve got to make that decision [to retire from coaching] at some point,” the coach added. “Probably this will be it, next year. Next year is next year, and then I’ll make up my mind [at the end of the 2015 season].”