The Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School (MVRHS) baseball team advanced to the MIAA Division 3 South Sectional semifinals for the first time in school history with a convincing 8-2 quarterfinal victory over Dedham, Wednesday afternoon at Vineyard Baseball Park in Oak Bluffs.
The seventh-seeded Vineyarders (14-7) jumped out to a 4-0 first inning lead on the 16th-seeded Marauders (8-15) and their starting pitcher, who had erratic control and walked five of the first seven batters.
The first pair of Vineyard runs came via Elias Fhagen-Smith and Chris Mayhew, who each singled, then scored on wild pitches. Theo Gallagher doubled the lead by knocking in James Sashin and Mitchell Chaves with a two-RBI single.
Jonas Lukowitz scored on another wild pitch in the second inning to make it 5-0. Dedham answered with a run in the top of the third, but the Vineyarders restored the five-run lead in the bottom half after Sam Bresnick doubled, stole third, and scored on a Taber Caron single.
The Marauders got another run in the fourth but James Sashin and Sam Bresnick answered immediately with RBI doubles to complete the scoring.
Sashin did his damage on offense and pitched five solid innings on the hill, conceding six hits and two earned runs, with six K’s and two walks. Jack Sierputoski closed the game with two scoreless innings, giving up three hits, striking out three and walking none.
Chris Mayhew led the hosts at the plate, going 3-4 with three singles, two runs scored, and two stolen bases. Mitchell Chaves doubled, walked twice, and scored, while Jonas Lukowitz singled, drew three walks, and stole three bases.
Next up for the Vineyarders is a rubber match with the third-seeded Norton Lancers (17-7) on June 8 at 4 pm at Stonehill College in Easton. The teams split the regular season series with the Lancers winning the season opener, 3-2, on April 3 in Norton, and the Vineyarders returning the favor with a 2-1 win in Oak Bluffs on May 24.
