This season was expected to be more of a rebuild for Old Colony baseball. Turns out it was a reload.
For the fifth time in as many seasons, the Cougars are the best team in the Mayflower Athletic Conference’s Small Vocational Division, bringing home another title with their 6-2 win over Norfolk Aggie on Wednesday.
“I didn’t know what to expect (entering the season),” Old Colony coach Craig Lincoln said after the first three games of the season. “Brand new team this year. A lot of guys taking on new spots and new roles, working to get to know each other on the baseball field. Communication has been the last thing we’ve been talking about, and they’ve been picking it up pretty well.”
Lincoln continued, “This is a very humble and well-behaved group that gets along together. It’s been a fun adjustment. Never know what you’re going to get with a new group.”
The one Cougar connecting this year’s team to last year’s is Drew Sullivan. The senior catcher leads the team with a .500 average, .557 on-base percentage, .720 slugging percentage, 1.277 OPS, 19 RBI and nine doubles. Two of those 19 RBI came in his 2-for-4 performance in the 6-2 win over Norfolk.
But the story in the big win was starting pitcher Jacob Worden.
The junior right-hander threw a complete game giving up two runs, though both were unearned. He also struck out eight hitters, spreading out 87 pitches over seven innings.
“He’s a gamer,” Lincoln said on Worden. “He wants the ball every day, all day. ‘Coach, I’m not coming out.’ Going into the sixth inning he’s going to the bullpen…. I’m like ‘What are you doing?’ He’s like, ‘I just have to loosen my arm up, something is a little tight, I’ll be fine.’ Came back out and finished strong. Very efficient.”
The next obstacle for the Cougars is the postseason, which is fast approaching, but the Cougars are just focused on the next game. That’s how they’ve approached everything this year, and it’s why they still set the standard for the Mayflower Small Vocational Division.
“They put in the work to overcome the guys that had left the program and they’re working to get to that point to put their own stamp on the program,” Lincoln said. “I would say it’s the most reward because nobody expected them to do it. They just battled. They’re gamers, I love it.”
The Cougars (12-3, 7-1 Mayflower Small Vocational) visit Tri-County on Friday at 3:30 pm. Old Colony will then visit Cape Cod Tech on Monday at 4:00 pm, and play GNB Voc-Tech on Tuesday at 3:30 pm.
Elana Sargentscored her 250thcareer varsity goal in Old Colony girls’ lacrosse’s 20-4 win over Bristol Plymouth on Monday. She finished with three goals and two assists in the win.
Old Colony (9-5, 5-2 Mayflower Small Vocational) hosts South Shore on Wednesday at 4:00 pm.
Old Colony softball is only a few games away from qualifying for the MIAA Div. 4 State Tournament, sitting at 7-5 (Mayflower Small Vocational) entering Tuesday’s contest against Southeastern.
Emily Littleshas been the pitcher of record for the Cougars in each game, pitching in 68 of the 70 innings in which Old Colony has played and throwing 11 complete games. The senior has struck out 107 batters over 68 innings, posting a 4.20 in the stretch.
Littles also leads the team with a .556 average at the plate.
Te-Lynn Laytonis currently hitting .463 in 11 games played. She leads the team with 17 RBI. Katherine Kirbyis right behind her with 16 RBI. Kirby is also hitting .468 and leads Old Colony with three home runs.
Following Wednesday’s 3:30 pm home matchup against South Shore, Old Colony hosts Tri-County on Friday at 3:30 pm.
Old Rochester Regional
Old Rochester girls’ lacrosse suffered its first loss of the season on Monday, falling 15-9 to Norwell. It wasn’t for lack of effort from Madison Cooney, who finished with four goals. Katherine Tracyand Megan Shayboth finished with two goals, while Ava Ciffolillohad one. Tracy also had an assist.
Old Rochester (12-1, 7-0 South Coast Conference) hosts Apponequet on Wednesday at 3:30 pm.
Old Rochester baseball rolled past Somerset Berkley baseball 18-3 on Monday, taking another step towards the postseason, improving to 7-5 (4-5 SCC).
Mike Kennefickstruck out six in only three innings of work, allowing only one run, which was unearned. He also went 2-for-3 at the plate, as did Chris LaBell. Jake Asiafalso had two hits in the win, knocked in three runs, and scored twice.
The Bulldogs host Case on Wednesday at 3:45 pm.
High School Sports Update
By Nick Friar