Amherst to play in state baseball final
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CHICOPEE - Derek Osborne pitched a gem Tuesday night to lead the Amherst Regional baseball team to its first state final in 69 years.
Osborne allowed two hits through eight innings and Kevin Ziomek struck out two batters with the bases loaded in the ninth to earn the save as the Hurricanes defeated Wachusett Regional 5-0 at Szot Park in the state Division 1 semifinals.
It was Amherst's second straight shutout following Dean Bonneau's 1-0 masterpiece in the sectional final on Monday. The Hurricanes' pitching staff has allowed one run in four tournament games.
"It feels good," Osborne said. "We were saying in the beginning of the year that we had a lot of potential with our pitchers. Hopefully we can get the state title."
Ziomek, the state Gatorade Player of the Year, will get the start when Amherst (17-7) faces Xaverian (15-10) Saturday at LeLacheur Park in Lowell in the championship game at a time to be determined.
Amherst lost to Somerville in the 1941 Division 1 state final.
Osborne's "been saying he wants the ball and we gave it to him in a clutch spot," Ziomek said. "He put on a show and it was a good game to watch. He was tremendous out there."
Despite not pitching since May 20, the senior righty was ready and he dominated for seven innings.
"I was a little nervous," Osborne said. "I didn't know what to expect from this team but I gave it my all."
Osborne retired 15 of 16 batters through five innings, with a leadoff walk in the second the lone blemish. He allowed a one-out single in the sixth but struck out the next hitter and catcher Steffen Herter threw the runner out stealing second to end the frame.
Osborne then retired the side in order in the seventh.
"I felt good. My arm felt good," Osborne said. "I was hitting my spots and just took them down."
While western Massachusetts games end after seven innings, state tournament rules call for nine innings and the extra work got to Osborne. He struck out the first two hitters of the eighth but allowed a walk and single. He escaped the jam with an inning-ending strikeout.
"He doesn't lose command a lot," Herter said. "He controls his pitches well. The reason we have to take him out sometimes is that he loses velocity. It's a long game and he threw over 100 pitches."
In the ninth Osborne labored. He allowed a one-out walk and back-to-back singles to load the bases. Amherst coach Greg Vouros then pulled his starter to a standing ovation in favor of his ace.
Osborne left after 117 pitches. He struck out seven, walked three and allowed four hits.
"I didn't want to (pull him) and we gave him a shot to do it," Vouros said.
Ziomek made quick work of the Mountaineers (18-9), striking out two hitters on 11 pitches for his third save of the season.
"I just wanted to pick D.O. up after pitching a great game," Ziomek said. "He deserved the shutout and I wanted to help him get it."
Amherst had its best offensive game of the postseason as three of its seven hits went for extra bases.
Ziomek (2-for-3, walk) doubled to lead off the fourth. He moved to third on a grounder and then scored on Zak Tanne's sacrifice fly for a 1-0 lead.
Ziomek also doubled to lead off the sixth, took third on a wild pitch and then scored on an error by the shortstop. Bonneau made it 3-0 in the sixth when he scored on a wild pitch.
Bobby Carkhuff's one-out double in the seventh scored Herter (2-for-5) for a 4-0 lead. Herter's RBI single in the eighth scored Jack McCutcheon with the final run.
"We've been hitting the ball hard and it was good they started falling for us," Herter said. "We have to keep piling the runs on."
Mike Moran can be reached at mmoran@gazettenet.com.
