Vasil Does One Better, Throws Complete Game to Lead BC High to Super Eight Semifinal

Sean O'Connell (pictured) scampers home on a Dave Driscoll RBI single 

Photo by Eamon Convey (@ConveyWEEI)

By Matt Feld (@Mattyfeld612)

Brockton, Mass. – One week after throwing seven shutout innings, Mike Vasil managed to be better.

On Thursday afternoon, Vasil fired a complete game shutout, striking out 13 and throwing 30 of 33 first pitch strikes as No. 1 BC High defeated eight-seeded Walpole, 9-0, to advance to the Super Eight Semifinal at Campanelli Stadium.

BC High (18-6) will face Central Catholic on Saturday at 1 p.m. for the right to play Franklin in the Super Eight Final.

In all, Vasil threw 109 pitches featuring predominantly a two-seam fastball that hovered between 91 and 92 miles per hour and a sharp breaking ball. Vasil has struck out 26 hitters and fallen behind in the count 2-0 twice over his last 17 innings.

“I think this was the most consistent start of the year for me,” said Vasil. “That’s a good team over there. I felt really good today. My arm feels great and I am just really happy to be where we are.”

Walpole, meanwhile, finishes its season at 17-7 while becoming the first eight seed to reach the Super Eight final four.

“(BC High) is a pretty talented team and it starts with the kid on the mound,” said Walpole coach Chris Costello. “It’s great for the younger guys to get a taste (of the Super Eight). It’s something we can use as motivation because we do have a nice group coming back.”

After Vasil struck out the side to begin his outing, BC High jumped on top in the bottom of the first. Three straight two out walks loaded the bases and Sean O’Connell lined a two-run single into right to give the Eagles a 2-0 lead.

One inning later, BC High added to its lead as John MacDonald doubled and Bobby DeMeo dropped an RBI single into left to make it 3-0.

“We jumped early and I think it was just demoralizing for them,” said BC High coach Norm Walsh. “I think they got two outs in the first inning on seven pitches and then we put a two spot up. I think that was really big with the way Mike was dealing.”

Walpole’s best opportunity to score came in the top of the third. Matt Falvey drew a two out walk and Dylan Hanifin laced a single to left to put runners on the corners with two outs. Vasil battled back, however, and got a strikeout on three pitches to get out of trouble.

Rebels’ starter Matt Donato settled down after the second inning retiring 12 of the next 13 hitters he faced. The junior, coming off a nine inning performance on Friday, kept the Eagles' off balance with a big breaking ball.

In the bottom of the sixth, the BC High offense came alive.

O’Connell drilled a one out double to right, and Dave Driscoll laced an RBI single to left to make it 3-0 BC High. MacDonald followed with an RBI double to center field, and after an error plated the fifth BC High run, Seamus Donovan scampered home on a double steal to make it 6-0 Eagles.

Vasil, meanwhile, was at his best in the middle innings. Between the fourth and seventh the right-hander retired 11 of 12 and reached double digits in strikeouts by the sixth inning.

“(Vasil) is back to where he was at the end of last season,” said Walsh. “That’s him. First time against Walpole he did not have as much command with the off-speed stuff, but today he had everything going for him.”