LENOX — Smith Vocational plated a pair of runs in the top of the final inning on Friday at Lenox.
However, by the time Andrew Pierce roped a two-run single to right-center field, putting runners on second and third with two outs, the Western Massachusetts Division 4 tournament opener was already out of reach.
Lenox, the No. 5 seed, got a fly out to end the threat and eliminate 12th-seeded Smith Vocational 19-3.
The Vikings were placed thoroughly behind the 8-ball after just one inning. The first eight batters Lenox sent to the plate all reached and scored, chasing starter Aiden Pike from the game after seven batters. William Mollison relieved him and got out of the inning, but not before the Millionaires raced up 12 runs on seven hits and three errors.
The frame started with Lenox leadoff man Cooper Shepardson beating out a bunt single on a bang-bang play at first. A walk was followed by a booted grounder to shortstop to score Shepardson. After Pike issued another pass, Trevor Sweener singled in two runs, and Ricky Armstrong followed with a RBI double and the rally was on.
Lenox led 16-0 after two innings, and put up a 3-spot after Smith finally got on the board in the top of the third to make it 19-1.
“We ended the season with a pretty good offensive game. I didn’t expect that many runs, but I was expecting us to stay hot,” Armstrong said. “It was a little nervous, first playoff game, didn’t make it last year, but more than satisfied with that one.”
The Vikings got a two-out double from Cole Boisvert to left-center in the third. Mollison then singled him home with a drive to left.
Despite a leadoff single in the first from Nathan Mollison, and another two-out double by Race Drobiak in the fourth, that was all the offense the Vikings could muster heading into the fifth.
Zach Hall set the table with a pinch-hit, lead-off single to center, and was helped along when Tom Doyle reached on an error. Pike loaded the bases with a single, before Pierce pinch hit and came through with the two-run knock.
William Mollison pitched three complete innings, striking out two and walking four. He appeared ill and was helped off the field after facing one batter in the fourth. Dylan Fil came on in relief and promptly got induced a double-play ball and another grounder to end the scoreless frame.
Smith Vocational ends its season 10-9.
Lenox 19, Smith Vocational 3
Smith Vocational 001 02 — 3 8 4
Lenox (12)43 0x — 19 13 2
WP—Sweener LP—Pike
Records: Smith Vocational (10-9)