ORANGE — Offensively, the Mahar baseball team couldn’t ask for much more against the High School of Commerce. The Senators turned 14 hits and seven walks into 15 runs en route to a 15-1 win over the Red Raiders on Thursday afternoon.
“I told the guys, the only way we’re going to be relaxed is we go out there and score some runs,” Mahar coach Art Billings said. “The only way to do that is hit the ball. We had a good practice (Wednesday) and it seems like the guys are really getting comfortable at the plate. This is just the payoff for them of that.”
Sophomore Charlie Barnes led the way for the Senators, who scored at least one run in every inning. Barnes went 4-for-5 with two doubles, a triple, five RBIs and three runs.
“He’s in the three-hole for a reason,” Billings said. “I expect that of him and I think, as a sophomore, there’s a lot of potential for him. I see it and I think he knows it too, but seeing him do that today, I think it’s just kind of the beginning of what he can do.”
Joey Brozell (walk, RBI) went 2-for-2 with two runs for the Senators (3-4). Todd Chiasson went 2-for-2 with three RBIs, while Will Peredina and Jacob Berry each had two RBIs.
Berry started and pitched five innings. He allowed one run on three hits and one walk while striking out seven.
It was the second straight quality start by a Mahar pitcher after Sam Paul pitched seven innings of two-run ball against Turners Falls.
“Coming into the beginning of the season, I thought our pitching was going to be our strong suit,” Billings said. “The past couple of games, it’s been that. I think if we can shore up the defense a little more and once you start hitting and scoring runs like that, that takes a lot of pressure off everybody. So I think the pitching today was very good and I’m expecting more of the same.”
Andrew Herk pitched the last two frames for the Senators. He struck out two and walked one. It was another good outing for the sophomore, who allowed one hit in one inning in his only other appearance.
“Him being a sophomore, I think he needed some innings and Jake had hit 70 or 75 pitches and it was a good time to bring Andrew in,” Billings said. “A no-pressure situation and just got there and show me what you can do.”
Mahar scored three runs in the third to take a 7-0 lead. Chaisson singled to center to score Brozell with the first run. Two batters later, Peredina hit a bases-loaded single to right field to score two runs.
The Senators went up 10-1 in the fourth on RBI singles by Logan Dodge and Brozell. The Senators also got a run on a Noaha Chabot grounder that scored Berry from third.
In the fifth, Barnes doubled to deep center and scored on Dodge’s single to put Mahar up 11-1.
The Senators put four more runs on the board in the sixth. Tucker Ninteau pinch-hit for Herk and singled to start the inning. Jake Tenney hit a pinch-hit grounder to the shortstop, who overthrew second base, allowing Ninteau and Tenney to move into scoring position. With two outs, Peredina walked to load the bases and Barnes doubled to center to score two runs. Berry then knocked in Peredina and Barnes with a single to make it 15-1.
It was the second time the Senators and Red Raiders played this season. The Senators won the previous matchup, 15-5.