BY ROGER CLEAVELAND
The Northwestern Regional baseball team’s season has been a bit of a roller coaster ride. There have been enough ups and downs to make any of the Highlanders a little queasy and uncertain of what to expect next.
The seven-game win streak to start the season was followed by losses in two of the next three games. Then a couple of nice shutout wins were abruptly followed by a slump in which the Highlanders lost five of seven games and seemed to be playing their way out of the Berkshire League title race.
But then the pitching and the defense seemed to come around at exactly the right time for this senior-ladened team. The Highlanders secured a share of the league title by winning their last two games and have played championship-cailber baseball through the quarterfinal round of the Class M state tournament as the No. 14 seed..
Today, Northwestern (16-7) finds out whether or not its thrill ride continues as the Highlanders face defending Class M champion and current No. 15 seed Sheehan (16-7) in the semifinals at Sage Park in Berlin.
“Our kids are loose right now,” co-coach Jim Davidson said. “We have hit all year, but our defense has been shaky at times. Lately that has been good and our pitching has come along with it, so we feel really good about ourselves.”
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The offense has been very productive most of the season as the top five batters in the lineup are all hitting better than .380 for the season. Leadoff hitter, second baseman Garrett Healey, is hitting .382 and No. 2 hitter, catcher Bryce Ramsey is batting .387. They’ve been perfect table setters for the heart of the lineup that’s been crushing the ball.
Shortstop Tony Pucino is hitting a team-best .429 from the No. 3 hole with cleanup hitter, cetnerfielder Joe Colmbie hitting .408 with 28 RBI and No. 5 hitter, first baseman Luke Gryniuk, hitting .415 with 21 RBI.
And now the team is getting the pitching and defense to complement that offense.
During their current five-game win streak, the Highlanders have allowed a total of six runs, including only two in their three state tournament wins over Wolcott Tech, Tolland and Stonington. The rotation has worked out perfectly with ace Vin Tancreti scheduled to pitch on full rest today against the defending champion Titans.
“Vinny has had a week’s rest after pitching very well against Tolland (a 2-0 shutout),” Davidson said. “He’s a tough kid who battles.”
and doesn’t give in to anyone. He has a good curveball, and he changes speed well. The big thing is he is always around the strike zone, and he can throw his curve for a strike even when he is behind in the count.
“We’re just going to go play. The kids are having fun, and this is the best time of the year to be playing well.”