Baseball: Belmont 17, Hopkinton 2

Belmont 17, Hopkinton 2

Key players: Belmont – Liam Waldron (win, 1.1 IP, 1 H, 1 BB, 0 R, 2 K; 3-for-5, triple, 2 doubles, 3 runs, 4 RBI), Wyatt Divers (save, 5.2 IP, 6 H, 4 BB, 2 R, 4 K), Jaxson Embree (3-for-5, triple, 2 stolen bases, 2 runs, 2 RBI), Anakin Underhill (double, 3 hits, stolen base, 3 runs, 2 RBI), Alejandro Jimenez Gonzalez (2-for-2, double, stolen base, run); Hopkinton – Cody Charron (2-for-4, run), Mike Pantano (1-for-2, 2 walks, run), Tyler Czarkowski (3-for-4, triple, 2 RBI; 3 assists from 3B)

Highlights: Belmont scored five runs in the first inning, three in the second, and one each in the third and fourth, and seven in the seven with two outs. The Raiders banged out 18 hits and limited defensive miscues. The highlight of the game came when Alejandro Jiminez Gonzalez got the offense going with a double, his first varsity hit, with two outs in the seventh after a lack luster 2.2 innings. Once he got the hit the bats came alive to the tune of 7 runs, capped off with a Jiminez-Gonzalez single in the same inning. Czarkowski’s 2-run triple in the fifth provided Hopkinton’s only runs.

Coaches’ quote’s “It was a good day and nice to get a boatload of hits and runs just before our season ends. We hope to be hitting the playoffs in stride, as we know we’ll have our hands full as we play the top teams in the division.” – Belmont’s Matt LeBlanc

“I am very pleased of how we battled as a team, getting at least one runner on base every inning except for the sixth. Unfortunately, we stranded 10 runners on base, including with the bases loaded in the bottom of the seventh. But more importantly, I’m very proud of how well Drew (Dumont) played for us today in his senior game to end his high school playing career. He should be extremely proud of himself with how he played in Hawks green and white for the last time.” – Hopkinton’s Kevin Hill

Records: Belmont 10-5; Hopkinton 1-15