St. John's (Shrewsbury) Baseball Sends Message against BC High

By Matt Feld (@mattyfeld612)

BOSTON - Ian Seymour made sure St. John’s (Shrewsbury) left its contest against BC High on Tuesday with a firm hold on the state’s number one ranking.

Behind five innings of one-run ball from Seymour, along with three hits and three RBIs from the aforementioned Pioneer’s ace, St. John’s cruised past the Eagles, 12-1, on a cool Tuesday afternoon at Monan Park at Boston College High School.

The Central Mass power was the aggressor all afternoon long, pounding out 13 hits while scoring multiple runs in four of the seven innings.

On the mound, Seymour was able to make the big pitch whenever he needed to, often using his fastball to get ahead before inducing outs via his changeup.

In all the left-hander threw 98 pitches, giving up one earned run while scattering five hits and striking out nine.

St. John’s coach Charlie Eppinger said there was definitely a different level of energy in his team on Tuesday.

“You know the kids get up when they get out of Central Mass and come out to play a team like BC High,” said Eppinger. “We play a tough schedule, but BC High arguably plays the toughest schedule in the state, so it may be tough for them to get up consistently for every game. Our kids really circle these games and know they want to win.”

Eagles’ starter Brendan Mignone was able to get through the first inning unscathed, thanks to a 4-6-3 double play, but in the second inning St. John’s (17-2) jumped out in front.

After Tom Moschella and Pat Galvin singled to put runners on the corners, David Turco drilled a two, two run double into the right center field gap that put St. John’s Shrewsbury up 2-0.

Moments later, Seymour helped out his own cause drilling a base hit up the middle that scored Turco and put the Pioneers up 3-0.

“That hit by (David Turco) was really huge and then Ian (Seymour) getting the tack on run there with two outs,” said Eppinger. “I think those two hits really gave us confidence, and then you have Ian on the mound, who we have a lot of faith in.”

Those three runs in all likelihood would have been more than enough, but the St. John’s offense continued to pile it on.

In the top of the third, Jack Gardner began the inning with a single, and Sean Burke reached on a booted double play ball to give St. John’s two on with nobody out.

After a strikeout and a fielder’s choice, Gavlin laced a single to right that scored Burke and gave the Pioneers a 4-0 advantage. Jack Fields followed up by crossing the plate on an errant pickoff throw to hand St. John’s a 5-0 lead.

The Pioneers officially put the game out of reach in the top of the fourth. Jake Hamel doubled, Turco singled, and Seymour picked up his second and third RBIs of the day belting an opposite field two run double that gave the Pioneers an insurmountable 8-0 advantage.

The win puts St. John's in great position to claim the top seed in the upcoming Division 1A "Super 8" tournament.