PITTSFIELD — Faced with a multiple time champion in the Western Massachusetts Division 3 final, the momentum surrounding the Belchertown baseball team finally ran out.
The Orioles fell to Taconic, 11-1, in five innings in the sectional championship game in steamy Pittsfield on Monday. It was Taconic’s third straight championship.
The eighth-seeded Orioles survived a slow start to the season only to catch fire late to enable a deep postseason run. First-year coach Evan Berneche watched his team evolve all through the year.
“You evaluate the talent in the condensed season that we had,” Berneche said. “Just try to do things the right way day in and day out. We started to figure out who to play where and hit the ball better. Just doing the little things started to pile up. We got hot at the right time. This is a stepping stone for where I want the program to be.”
No. 2 Taconic (17-0) moves on to state competition. Taconic starter Anton Lazits’ pitches were unlike any the Orioles had seen all season, according to Berneche.
“Baseball is simple,” Berneche said. “It comes down to pitching and hitting. That was probably the fastest pitcher we have seen all year. It’s tough when you don’t face opponents like that every day. You hope to be able to match that as you build the program.”
Lazits struck out seven in three innings of work. Belchertown’s Tim Mitus had an RBI single in the top of the third for the Orioles’ lone run.
Mitus had the lone hit off Lazits, who walked two and hit a batter.
The Belchertown squad built a camaraderie throughout the season, according to senior Ryan Zawistowski.
“We started pretty down,” Zawistowski said. “We really just had to step and do something with our team. We started to have fun. We like to chirp and be loud. We started rolling. No one could stop us, until today. They are a special team.”
Austin Endelos, John Gelinas, Matt Roy,Tyler Laramee, Jake Delaney and Zawistowski all played their final game for Belchertown.
“Coming to see my boys every day meant the most,” Zawistowski said. “Just getting out there and enjoying my time with them. It was special.”
Taconic jumped on Belchertown (10-6) starting pitcher Chris Misiaszek for four runs in the bottom of the first inning.
“They are good players,” Misiaszek said. “I didn’t really have great stuff today myself. They kind of just teed off on me.”
Even with the early deficit the Orioles never got quiet in the dugout.
“Just trying to have fun,” Misiaszek said. “You don’t get to the championship every day. Wanted to make it as fun as possible just being here.”
Misiaszek gave up six hits in two innings. Ryan Decoteau pitched in relief for the Orioles. In two innings of work Decoteau struck out three hitters while giving up four hits.
Taconic’s Brendan Stannard and Sam Sherman had RBI hits in the first inning.
The long ball hurt the Orioles in the bottom of the second. With runners on second and third, Leo Arace laced a ground-rule double down the right field line that scored two runs.
The umpires initially ruled the play a home run but the call was overturned after a huddle. Evan Blake followed with a homer to left field to make the score 8-0.
Matt Lee’s RBI hit with the bases loaded made the score 11-1 in the bottom of the fourth.
In an attempt to avoid the mercy rule, Misiaszek singled in the fifth but was picked off at first base. Eli Sayball-Wimmer also singled but Taconic relief pitcher Sam Shermer ended the threat.
