BY JERRY LIPTAK
A successful road trip is indeed exciting. But there are limits – 210 miles? Each way? For one game? In Hopkinton’s case, you bet.
After hosting and beating last year’s Class M state champs, Campbell, on Saturday, April 21, the Hawks boarded a bus on Sunday for Cooperstown, N.Y., took in the sites at the Baseball Hall of Fame, then rode the arm and bat of David Brandt to a win over Class S Sunapee on Monday morning, April 23.
Then they rode home.
“A great trip,” said head coach Dave Chase. “Both teams walked around the Hall of Fame for a couple hours, then we let ’em loose for some shopping – all things baseball. We caught the Red Sox’s win last night, then played at Doubleday Field – a beautiful park on a beautiful day.”
It was especially memorable for Brandt and his Hawk teammates, who won the mercy rule-shortened contest, 13-0.
Brandt threw a no-hitter, fanning 13. He played a part in every out, fielding two ground balls as well.
With his parents watching from the stands, Brandt added a single, double and two triples in four at-bats.
And he wasn’t alone in shining at the dish. Sophomore outfielder Tom Johnson went 3-for-3 with two RBI.
Though the game didn’t count in the Class M standings, Saturday’s contest, a 6-4 Hopkinton win, certainly did.
Junior catcher Nick Babson drove in the winning run during a three-run sixth inning. He finished the day 2-for-3.
John Reen threw a complete game for the locals. After giving up the go-ahead run in the top of the fifth, Reen settled down and gave Chase a 98-pitch, complete-game effort.
“That’s the thing that impressed me about Reen. He could have caved in after giving up that run,” said Chase. “But he was gutsy and determined. He walked the leadoff hitter in the top of the seventh, but got the next three guys to end the game.”
In fact, he retired Campbell’s 3, 4 and 5 hitters to do it, one on a pop out, the second on a strikeout and the third on a long fly ball.
That was the closest Chase has come to sweating out a final score so far in 2007.
And, with Reen and Brandt clearly capable of supporting pitching ace Jake McManus, 2-for-3 with an RBI against Campbell, and Matt Story, unbeaten in three decisions in ’06, the sky may very well be the only limit for these Hawks.