AMHERST — After a historic regular season for the Frontier Regional baseball team, the Red Hawks found themselves in the Western Massachusetts Division 3 championship for the second time in three years, Saturday at UMass’ Earl Lorden Field.
It wasn’t meant to be for the Red Hawks, who lost to Taconic 6-1.
Taconic’s Cedric Rose muscled a two-run homer in the first inning, and a solo shot in the fifth against Frontier starter Ben Arnold.
“Neither of the pitches he hit out were even strikes,” Arnold said. “He is a big kid. He just made contact and hit them out wherever I threw it.”
Rose’s three RBIs were enough to beat the Red Hawks. The Braves advance to play Auburn in the state semifinals, Tuesday at Tivnan Field in Worcester. Taconic won the 2017 state Division 1 championship, while Auburn won the state Division 3 title.
With the Frontier (21-2) bats silent, it was up to Arnold to keep the Red Hawks in the game, and until a three-run sixth inning for Taconic he did just that. Arnold struck out six and gave up 10 hits with a walk. Going into the sixth Frontier trailed only 3-1.
“We are disappointed,” Frontier coach Chris Williams said. “But you give it 24 hours and we are going to be proud of what we accomplished.”
Arnold, Camden Barnes, Bryce Jordan and Alec Jordan all played their last game for Frontier.
“Early in my career I never thought I would pitch,” Arnold said. “I took on a big role there after all our pitching left. Became a captain. It’s been a great time.”
Arnold had nine wins on the mound during the season.
“Benny embraced the role as our starter, our rock last year,” Williams said. “He carried it through to finish his career here.
Taconic’s Christian Womble was a force for seven innings, picking up the win with 11 strikeouts while giving up only three hits.
“He threw pretty hard and used his curve ball,” Arnold said. “We just couldn’t it him. Our hitting wasn’t on.”
The Red Hawks return a lot of young players next season with only four seniors leaving the team.
“Moving forward as these guys gain experience they are going to get bigger,” Williams said. “They are going to get faster and this team is going to be a force to be reckoned with in the next few years.”
Pinch hitter Jacob Bryant delivered an RBI single for the Red Hawks in the top of the fourth that cut the lead to 2-1. Alec Jordan and Dylan Apanell had the other two hits for Frontier.
Rose’s second homer made it 3-1.
Frontier had a good scoring opportunity when Womble walked Bryce Jordan and Arnold to start the top of the third. A fly out by Matt Hildreth moved Jordan to third with Bryan Baumann up to bat with just one out.
Williams put on a squeeze attempt, but Baumann’s bunt attempt missed on a low pitch that rolled to the plate. Jordan got cut down at home plate by Rose, who did a nice job snaring the wild pitch and applying the tag.
“I would do the same thing again,” Williams said. “It’s a high percentage play if he doesn’t throw that curve ball in the dirt. I think today it would take perfect execution to beat these guys with a no fear attitude. They are a great team.”
Womble had a two-run bloop single in the sixth to add insurance for the Braves. Austin Rachiele singled home a run earlier in the inning.
Taconic 6, Frontier 1
Frontier 000 100 0 – 1 3 1
Taconic 200 013 x – 6 10 0
WP – Womble LP – Arnold
Records – Frontier (21-2); Taconic (17-4)
