CHS baseball opens season with comeback win

After a stretch of wet weather forced back-to-back cancelations, the CHS baseball team had a good shot to play both games this week with Taunton and Stoughton due to visit Tuesday and Wednesday.

Prior to that point the Bulldogs had played just one game — their season opener April 1 at North Attleboro. But they managed to make the most of it thanks to a stellar pitching performance by junior captain Kyle Redquest, who went the distance for the Bulldogs on the mound in a 3-2, come-from-behind win.

Kyle Redquest was honored as the Player of the Game after the season opener.

Redquest, who emerged as the team’s top pitcher as a sophomore last season, didn’t have the easiest first inning as North Attleboro jumped out to a 2-0 lead on a pair of unearned runs. But he was dominant the rest of the way, tossing six straight scoreless innings while striking out five and walking none.

Redquest also helped himself at the plate with a key single in the fourth inning, and he came around to score the tying run on an error. Senior Brendan Clegg drove in the other Canton run with a sacrifice fly in the third, and four innings later Clegg crossed the plate for the game-winning run after he walked, stole second, reached third on a sacrifice bunt by Teddy Shuman, and came home on a squeeze bunt by senior Nick Gillis.

Previewing this year’s team, head coach David Walsh said it’s a young group, with more than half of its roster made up of freshmen and sophomores. A few of them, including Shane Kelleher and JT Norton, have prior varsity experience, and several others look poised to make a leap after excelling at the JV level last year.

Among the veterans, Redquest’s pitching will be a key, as will the leadership and all-around skillset of senior captain Owen Lane, who will play centerfield and pitch out the bullpen.

“Our team is going to rely on pitching and defense,” noted Walsh.

With one win already under their belts, the Bulldogs are hoping to improve upon last year’s record of 8-13. After their two home games this week, the team will play two in a row — one away and one home — next week against nonleague Plymouth South, followed by home games against Oliver Ames and Franklin April 22 and 24.

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Posted by Mike Berger on Apr 12 2024. Filed under High School, Sports. Both comments and pings are currently closed.