South Royalton
The top-seeded Royals (15-2), who got three hits from Zeb Perreault and a complete game on the mound from Jacob Hewitt, will seek their third state title in as many years when they face No. 2 Danville, which handed No. 3 Black River a 17-0 defeat in Tuesday’s other semi, on Friday at Centennial Field in Burlington.
Hewitt, who surrendered four hits and three walks, while striking out three, will be playing in his third title game along with co-captain Dominick Small. If Hewitt gets to be part of yet another postseason run next spring as a senior, it will on a different team thanks to Act 46.
“School’s combining next year,” Hewitt said. “We know were not going to be wearing the blue uniforms anymore. I think it was extra special that we came back. Three years in a row going to Centennial, last game on this field as a Royal ever, so I enjoyed that.”
Tuesday’s matchup was a pitchers’ duel between Hewitt and Rivendell’s Dashiel Fukushima until the sixth inning, when all six runs were scored.
SoRo, which left seven men on base, struggled early on the basepaths. Small was thrown out by Rivendell catcher Zach Dexter, Hewitt was called out for interfering with Raptors first baseman Zack Gould, and Perrault was thrown out by Dexter when he rounded third a bit too far after his first of two triples.
No. 4 Rivendell (10-5) broke the scoreless tie after Ryan Woodbeck led off the sixth with a walk and reached third on a hit-and-run play, with Ty Newman singling him over. Gould grounded to short, reaching safely on a fielders’ choice and driving in Woodbeck in the process.
Dylan Ricker followed with a single and SoRo overthrew third base, which brought Gould home. The guests would go on to load the bases with one out but failed to extend their rally.
The Royals, who have lost just four games in the past three seasons, answered in the bottom half of the inning by sending nine men to the plate. Small led off with a single and was brought in by Perrault’s second triple of the day. Carder Stratton reached on an error and Logan Martin had an infield hit before Jacob Barry’s bunt caused fits for the Raptors: Rivendell overthrew first after fielding the bunt, allowing both Stratton and Martin to score.
“The funny part is we imploded on bunt defense, which is something we practiced for an hour and a half yesterday,” Rivendell coach Eric Reichert said. “So I don’t know why all of the sudden things were confusing to them, since we talked about it, we bunted on it, but things happen to the kids when they feel the pressure.”
Fukushima gave up six hits and two walks, hit a batter and struck out eight. The senior ace also hit a double in the sixth inning.