Class D baseball: Hopkins Academy strikes early but No. 1 Pioneer rallies to claim WMass title (PHOTOS)

Pioneer's Jack Glazier, left, receives a pass from the catcher as Hopkins Academy's Carter Styspeck (4) slides to second base during the PVIAC Class D championship game at Mackenzie Stadium, Wednesday, May 28, 2025, in Holyoke.

Pioneer's Jack Glazier, left, receives a pass from the catcher as Hopkins Academy's Carter Styspeck (4) slides to second base during the PVIAC Class D championship game at Mackenzie Stadium, Wednesday, May 28, 2025, in Holyoke. STAFF PHOTO / DANIEL JACOBI II—

Pioneer's Brody Welcome, bottom, lifts Hayden Girard, top, after winning the PVIAC Class D championship game against Hopkins Academy 4-2 at Mackenzie Stadium, Wednesday, May 28, 2025, in Holyoke.

Pioneer's Brody Welcome, bottom, lifts Hayden Girard, top, after winning the PVIAC Class D championship game against Hopkins Academy 4-2 at Mackenzie Stadium, Wednesday, May 28, 2025, in Holyoke. STAFF PHOTO / DANIEL JACOBI II—

Hopkins Academy's Al West pitches the ball during the PVIAC Class D championship game against Pioneer at Mackenzie Stadium, Wednesday, May 28, 2025, in Holyoke.

Hopkins Academy's Al West pitches the ball during the PVIAC Class D championship game against Pioneer at Mackenzie Stadium, Wednesday, May 28, 2025, in Holyoke. STAFF PHOTO / DANIEL JACOBI II—

Pioneer's Alex McClelland slides back to first base during the PVIAC Class D championship game against Hopkins Academy at Mackenzie Stadium, Wednesday, May 28, 2025, in Holyoke.

Pioneer's Alex McClelland slides back to first base during the PVIAC Class D championship game against Hopkins Academy at Mackenzie Stadium, Wednesday, May 28, 2025, in Holyoke. STAFF PHOTO / DANIEL JACOBI II—

Pioneer's Ethan Quinn pitches the ball during the PVIAC Class D championship game against Hopkins Academy at Mackenzie Stadium, Wednesday, May 28, 2025, in Holyoke.

Pioneer's Ethan Quinn pitches the ball during the PVIAC Class D championship game against Hopkins Academy at Mackenzie Stadium, Wednesday, May 28, 2025, in Holyoke. STAFF PHOTO / DANIEL JACOBI II—

Pioneer's Ethan Quinn pitches the ball during the PVIAC Class D championship game against Hopkins Academy at Mackenzie Stadium, Wednesday, May 28, 2025, in Holyoke.

Pioneer's Ethan Quinn pitches the ball during the PVIAC Class D championship game against Hopkins Academy at Mackenzie Stadium, Wednesday, May 28, 2025, in Holyoke. STAFF PHOTO / DANIEL JACOBI II—

Hopkins Academy's Chace Earle pitches the ball during the PVIAC Class D championship game against Pioneer at Mackenzie Stadium, Wednesday, May 28, 2025, in Holyoke.

Hopkins Academy's Chace Earle pitches the ball during the PVIAC Class D championship game against Pioneer at Mackenzie Stadium, Wednesday, May 28, 2025, in Holyoke. STAFF PHOTO / DANIEL JACOBI II—

Hopkins Academy's JJ Scanlon hits the ball during the PVIAC Class D championship game against Pioneer at Mackenzie Stadium, Wednesday, May 28, 2025, in Holyoke.

Hopkins Academy's JJ Scanlon hits the ball during the PVIAC Class D championship game against Pioneer at Mackenzie Stadium, Wednesday, May 28, 2025, in Holyoke. STAFF PHOTO / DANIEL JACOBI II—

Pioneer's Jackson Campbell strikes a pose after hitting a double during the PVIAC Class D championship game against Hopkins Academy at Mackenzie Stadium, Wednesday, May 28, 2025, in Holyoke.

Pioneer's Jackson Campbell strikes a pose after hitting a double during the PVIAC Class D championship game against Hopkins Academy at Mackenzie Stadium, Wednesday, May 28, 2025, in Holyoke. STAFF PHOTO / DANIEL JACOBI II—

Hopkins Academy's Chace Earle, right, looks down as Head Coach Dan Vreeland, left, walks toward the mound during the PVIAC Class D championship game against Pioneer at Mackenzie Stadium, Wednesday, May 28, 2025, in Holyoke.

Hopkins Academy's Chace Earle, right, looks down as Head Coach Dan Vreeland, left, walks toward the mound during the PVIAC Class D championship game against Pioneer at Mackenzie Stadium, Wednesday, May 28, 2025, in Holyoke. STAFF PHOTO / DANIEL JACOBI II—

Pioneer's Brody Welcome hits the ball during the PVIAC Class D championship game against Hopkins Academy at Mackenzie Stadium, Wednesday, May 28, 2025, in Holyoke.

Pioneer's Brody Welcome hits the ball during the PVIAC Class D championship game against Hopkins Academy at Mackenzie Stadium, Wednesday, May 28, 2025, in Holyoke. STAFF PHOTO / DANIEL JACOBI II—

Hopkins Academy's Nate Rickles, left, receives a pass from the catcher as Pioneer's Alex McClelland, right, slides to second base during the PVIAC Class D championship game at Mackenzie Stadium, Wednesday, May 28, 2025, in Holyoke.

Hopkins Academy's Nate Rickles, left, receives a pass from the catcher as Pioneer's Alex McClelland, right, slides to second base during the PVIAC Class D championship game at Mackenzie Stadium, Wednesday, May 28, 2025, in Holyoke. STAFF PHOTO / DANIEL JACOBI II—

Hopkins Academy players meet at the mound during the PVIAC Class D championship game against Pioneer at Mackenzie Stadium, Wednesday, May 28, 2025, in Holyoke.

Hopkins Academy players meet at the mound during the PVIAC Class D championship game against Pioneer at Mackenzie Stadium, Wednesday, May 28, 2025, in Holyoke. STAFF PHOTO / DANIEL JACOBI II—

Hopkins Academy's Al West, right, avoids a tag from Pioneer's Jackson Campbell, left, during the PVIAC Class D championship game at Mackenzie Stadium, Wednesday, May 28, 2025, in Holyoke.

Hopkins Academy's Al West, right, avoids a tag from Pioneer's Jackson Campbell, left, during the PVIAC Class D championship game at Mackenzie Stadium, Wednesday, May 28, 2025, in Holyoke. STAFF PHOTO / DANIEL JACOBI II—

Hopkins Academy's JJ Scanlon reacts after striking out during the PVIAC Class D championship game against Pioneer at Mackenzie Stadium, Wednesday, May 28, 2025, in Holyoke.

Hopkins Academy's JJ Scanlon reacts after striking out during the PVIAC Class D championship game against Pioneer at Mackenzie Stadium, Wednesday, May 28, 2025, in Holyoke. STAFF PHOTO / DANIEL JACOBI II—

Pioneer's Ethan Mauthe fields a ground ball during the PVIAC Class D championship game against Hopkins Academy at Mackenzie Stadium, Wednesday, May 28, 2025, in Holyoke.

Pioneer's Ethan Mauthe fields a ground ball during the PVIAC Class D championship game against Hopkins Academy at Mackenzie Stadium, Wednesday, May 28, 2025, in Holyoke. STAFF PHOTO / DANIEL JACOBI II—

Hopkins Academy's Tucker Russell, right, reacts after striking out during the PVIAC Class D championship game against Pioneer at Mackenzie Stadium, Wednesday, May 28, 2025, in Holyoke.

Hopkins Academy's Tucker Russell, right, reacts after striking out during the PVIAC Class D championship game against Pioneer at Mackenzie Stadium, Wednesday, May 28, 2025, in Holyoke. STAFF PHOTO / DANIEL JACOBI II—

Hopkins Academy's Carter Styspeck rounds third base during the PVIAC Class D championship game against Pioneer at Mackenzie Stadium, Wednesday, May 28, 2025, in Holyoke.

Hopkins Academy's Carter Styspeck rounds third base during the PVIAC Class D championship game against Pioneer at Mackenzie Stadium, Wednesday, May 28, 2025, in Holyoke. STAFF PHOTO / DANIEL JACOBI II—

Hopkins Academy Head Coach Dan Vreeland, center, talks to the team after losing the PVIAC Class D championship game against Pioneer 4-2 at Mackenzie Stadium, Wednesday, May 28, 2025, in Holyoke.

Hopkins Academy Head Coach Dan Vreeland, center, talks to the team after losing the PVIAC Class D championship game against Pioneer 4-2 at Mackenzie Stadium, Wednesday, May 28, 2025, in Holyoke. STAFF PHOTO / DANIEL JACOBI II—

Hopkins Academy's Matt Vassallo begins to take off his batting gear after striking out during the PVIAC Class D championship game against Pioneer at Mackenzie Stadium, Wednesday, May 28, 2025, in Holyoke.

Hopkins Academy's Matt Vassallo begins to take off his batting gear after striking out during the PVIAC Class D championship game against Pioneer at Mackenzie Stadium, Wednesday, May 28, 2025, in Holyoke. STAFF PHOTO / DANIEL JACOBI II—

Hopkins Academy's Logan Bye rubs his head while walking to first base after being hit by a pitch during the PVIAC Class D championship game against Pioneer at Mackenzie Stadium, Wednesday, May 28, 2025, in Holyoke.

Hopkins Academy's Logan Bye rubs his head while walking to first base after being hit by a pitch during the PVIAC Class D championship game against Pioneer at Mackenzie Stadium, Wednesday, May 28, 2025, in Holyoke. STAFF PHOTO / DANIEL JACOBI II—

Hopkins Academy's JJ Scanlon misses catching a fly ball during the PVIAC Class D championship game against Pioneer at Mackenzie Stadium, Wednesday, May 28, 2025, in Holyoke.

Hopkins Academy's JJ Scanlon misses catching a fly ball during the PVIAC Class D championship game against Pioneer at Mackenzie Stadium, Wednesday, May 28, 2025, in Holyoke. STAFF PHOTO / DANIEL JACOBI II—

Hopkins Academy's Al West, left, scores a run during the PVIAC Class D championship game against Pioneer at Mackenzie Stadium, Wednesday, May 28, 2025, in Holyoke.

Hopkins Academy's Al West, left, scores a run during the PVIAC Class D championship game against Pioneer at Mackenzie Stadium, Wednesday, May 28, 2025, in Holyoke. STAFF PHOTO / DANIEL JACOBI II—

Pioneer's Braeden Tsipenyuk claps after scoring a run during the PVIAC Class D championship game against Hopkins Academy at Mackenzie Stadium, Wednesday, May 28, 2025, in Holyoke.

Pioneer's Braeden Tsipenyuk claps after scoring a run during the PVIAC Class D championship game against Hopkins Academy at Mackenzie Stadium, Wednesday, May 28, 2025, in Holyoke. STAFF PHOTO / DANIEL JACOBI II—

Pioneer players pose for a photograph after winning the PVIAC Class D championship game against Hopkins Academy 4-2 at Mackenzie Stadium, Wednesday, May 28, 2025, in Holyoke.

Pioneer players pose for a photograph after winning the PVIAC Class D championship game against Hopkins Academy 4-2 at Mackenzie Stadium, Wednesday, May 28, 2025, in Holyoke. STAFF PHOTO / DANIEL JACOBI II—

Pioneer's Ethan Quinn (9) is high-fived after closing out an inning during the PVIAC Class D championship game against Hopkins Academy at Mackenzie Stadium, Wednesday, May 28, 2025, in Holyoke.

Pioneer's Ethan Quinn (9) is high-fived after closing out an inning during the PVIAC Class D championship game against Hopkins Academy at Mackenzie Stadium, Wednesday, May 28, 2025, in Holyoke. STAFF PHOTO / DANIEL JACOBI II—

Pioneer's Ethan Mauthe watches his hit during the PVIAC Class D championship game against Hopkins Academy at Mackenzie Stadium, Wednesday, May 28, 2025, in Holyoke.

Pioneer's Ethan Mauthe watches his hit during the PVIAC Class D championship game against Hopkins Academy at Mackenzie Stadium, Wednesday, May 28, 2025, in Holyoke. STAFF PHOTO / DANIEL JACOBI II—

Hopkins Academy's Al West sits on the bench during the PVIAC Class D championship game against Pioneer at Mackenzie Stadium, Wednesday, May 28, 2025, in Holyoke.

Hopkins Academy's Al West sits on the bench during the PVIAC Class D championship game against Pioneer at Mackenzie Stadium, Wednesday, May 28, 2025, in Holyoke. STAFF PHOTO / DANIEL JACOBI II—

Pioneer's Jack Glazier avoids being hit by a pitch during the PVIAC Class D championship game against Hopkins Academy at Mackenzie Stadium, Wednesday, May 28, 2025, in Holyoke.

Pioneer's Jack Glazier avoids being hit by a pitch during the PVIAC Class D championship game against Hopkins Academy at Mackenzie Stadium, Wednesday, May 28, 2025, in Holyoke. STAFF PHOTO / DANIEL JACOBI II—

Hopkins Academy players watch a pitch from the dugout during the PVIAC Class D championship game against Pioneer at Mackenzie Stadium, Wednesday, May 28, 2025, in Holyoke.

Hopkins Academy players watch a pitch from the dugout during the PVIAC Class D championship game against Pioneer at Mackenzie Stadium, Wednesday, May 28, 2025, in Holyoke. STAFF PHOTO / DANIEL JACOBI II—

Hopkins Academy's Nate Rickles fields a ground ball during the PVIAC Class D championship game against Pioneer at Mackenzie Stadium, Wednesday, May 28, 2025, in Holyoke.

Hopkins Academy's Nate Rickles fields a ground ball during the PVIAC Class D championship game against Pioneer at Mackenzie Stadium, Wednesday, May 28, 2025, in Holyoke. STAFF PHOTO / DANIEL JACOBI II—

Hopkins Academy's Carter Styspeck looks to field a ground ball during the PVIAC Class D championship game against Pioneer at Mackenzie Stadium, Wednesday, May 28, 2025, in Holyoke.

Hopkins Academy's Carter Styspeck looks to field a ground ball during the PVIAC Class D championship game against Pioneer at Mackenzie Stadium, Wednesday, May 28, 2025, in Holyoke. STAFF PHOTO / DANIEL JACOBI II—

Pioneer's Alex McClelland, left, catches a fly ball during the PVIAC Class D championship game against Hopkins Academy at Mackenzie Stadium, Wednesday, May 28, 2025, in Holyoke.

Pioneer's Alex McClelland, left, catches a fly ball during the PVIAC Class D championship game against Hopkins Academy at Mackenzie Stadium, Wednesday, May 28, 2025, in Holyoke. STAFF PHOTO / DANIEL JACOBI II—

Pioneer's Ethan Mauthe, back, catches a fly ball during the PVIAC Class D championship game against Hopkins Academy at Mackenzie Stadium, Wednesday, May 28, 2025, in Holyoke.

Pioneer's Ethan Mauthe, back, catches a fly ball during the PVIAC Class D championship game against Hopkins Academy at Mackenzie Stadium, Wednesday, May 28, 2025, in Holyoke. STAFF PHOTO / DANIEL JACOBI II—

By GARRETT COTE

Staff Writer

Published: 05-28-2025 9:33 PM

HOLYOKE — They say the third time is the charm, and it most certainly was for the top-seeded Pioneer baseball team on Wednesday afternoon at MacKenzie Stadium.

After losing in the Western Massachusetts Class D finals the previous two seasons, the Panthers used timely hitting from Ethan Mauthe and a dominant outing on the mound from Ethan Quinn to erase an early 2-0 deficit and defeat No. 3 Hopkins Academy, 4-2.

Wednesday marked Pioneer’s first sectional crown since 2022.

“It feels really good,” Panthers head coach Kevin Luippold said. “I’m really happy for the guys. With such a senior-heavy team, I’m just very happy that these guys get to enjoy this with each other. They deserve it more than anyone in my opinion, so I’m glad to see them come out on top.”

In 2023, Pioneer played Ware in the Class D final and lost a 3-1 heartbreaker in extra innings. Last season, the Panthers met Ware once more on the same stage, and again they fell just shy – this time a 2-1 defeat in extras. After surrendering two runs in the top of the first on Wednesday, it looked as if Pioneer’s title-game misfortunes might continue.

Hopkins’ Carter Styspeck walked and Alex West laid down a bunt to the third base side. Third baseman Jackson Campbell fielded it cleanly and threw it over to second in an attempt to beat Styspeck, but the throw went into center field. Chace Earle then ripped a double down the line to bring Styspeck home, and West later scored on a Logan Bye fielder’s choice. Quinn got Nathan Rickles to pop out to short stop to limit the damage.

The Panthers didn’t let the slow start get to them. They wasted no time battling back, as Tsipenyuk put one in play and reached first safely following a Hopkins error. Campbell then got on board as he beat out an infield single. A pair of passed balls allowed Tsipenyuk to come home and an Alex McClelland walk and stolen base put runners on second and third with nobody out. Quinn recorded a sacrifice fly to plate Campbell and knot the game at two.

After throwing the first punch at the top seed, the Golden Hawks were forced back on their heels.

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“They’re a really good ball club, and damn-near their whole team is seniors, so we knew we were going to see mostly a good game out of them,” Hopkins head coach Dan Vreeland said of Pioneer. “So when they gave us a couple in the first – and not that we weren’t swinging the bat, but they really did give us those runs in the first – we needed to do the little things right from that point on. And we didn’t do them right for most of the bottom of the first inning. We basically did the same thing they did in the first and it gave them a clean start.”

On Saturday night, Hopkins matched up with No. 2 Ware, which came in 18-1. The Golden Hawks got a stellar outing from Tucker Russell and came up with enough timely hits to knock off the second seed, 7-4. That set Hopkins up with Pioneer, a team it played tough twice in the regular season. The young Golden Hawks once again hung toe-to-toe with the heavy favorites, this time on the arms of Chace Earle and Alex West.

Vreeland said both Earle (4 1/3 innings, four Ks, two earned runs) and West (1 2/3 innings, no runs, two walks, one hit) didn’t necessarily bring their best stuff from start to finish, but when the time came to make clutch pitches with guys on base, both of them delivered. It allowed Hopkins (12-9) to stay in the game the entire way.

“We’re a really young team,” Vreeland said. “I know it doesn’t look it on paper, but we’ve got one senior that’s started every single game and one that’s started about 50 percent of the games. After that it’s all underclassmen. People see our record but it’s deceptive. We’ve lost games because we’re young sometimes. But when we’re on, we’re just as good as Ware and we’re on that level with Pioneer at times. Everyone dug deep today and I’m proud of the way they battled.”

Pioneer added the go-ahead run in the bottom of the third on a two-out Mauthe triple that brought Quinn – who singled to start the rally – to the plate, and put another run on the board in the fifth as McClelland scampered home after an error. Those two runs were enough with how Quinn was dealing. The senior finished with 11 strikeouts and gave up only three hits and two walks in a complete-game effort.

McClelland walked, singled twice and scored, Mauthe added a single to his line after the big triple in the third, Campbell (single, double, walk) reached base three times and Quinn went 1-for-3 with a walk and an RBI for the Pioneer offense.

Pioneer has now won a Western Mass. title in boys soccer, basketball and baseball this school year. It has been quite the stretch of success for the Panthers, and it could get even better as they enter the state tournament as the No. 1 overall seed.

“It’s a monumental year, for all sports,” Quinn said.

“It’s really cool to be a part of this,” Tsipenyuk added. “It just shows the work and dedication that’s gone into it over the years. These guys have worked their tails off to get to where we’re at, in all three sports. Soccer was kind of like a, ‘Hey, we can do this,’ kind of thing, and that set the floor for basketball and baseball to go out and reach those goals too.”

Hopkins’ offense was led by Earle’s RBI double as he reached base twice. Bye also reached twice and added his RBI while JJ Scanlon tallied a hit.

The Golden Hawks are No. 6 in the MIAA Division 5 state tournament, and they will host the winner of No. 27 Monson and No. 38 Springfield International Charter School at a date and time to be announced.