Marblehead relief pitcher Chris Cannuscio, left, and catcher David Bartram celebrate after punching out the final batter to seal the deal on an 8-4 upset victory over Hopkinton in a Division 2 Round of 32 state tournament game at Hopkinton High School on June 5. The Magicians now advance to the Sweet 16 at Westfield Thursday afternoon. Current photo / Ken McGagh
The Marblehead Baseball Magicians (14-8), who started the Division 2 state tournament as the 29th seed, went on a long-distance road trip to Hopkinton Monday afternoon to take on the fourth-seeded Hillers (14-7) in the Round of 32, and they promptly doubled up the home team in an upset, 8-4.
Marblehead’s Riley Schmitt (7) is being congratulated by teammate Chris DeWitt after scoring a valuable insurance run in the fifth inning of a Division 2 Round of 32 tournament game against Hopkinton at Hopkinton High School on June 5. The Magicians won the game, 8-4. Current photo / Ken McGagh
The Marblehead boys scored the first run of the game right away in the opening stanza, and added four more in the second to lead, 5-0.
Pitcher Drew Whitman allowed three runs – two earned – four hits and four walks over the first 4.2-innings. He fanned one.
Marblehead starting pitcher Drew Whitman gets ready to throw a strike against Hopkinton during a Division 2 Round of 32 state tournament game at Hopkinton High School on June 5. Whitman picked up the win to help send his teammates to the Sweet 16 game at Westfield Thursday afternoon. Current photo / Ken McGagh
“But Hopkinton didn’t go away easily,” said Marblehead coach Mike Giardi. “They kept on tacking on runs in the third, fourth, fifth and sixth, while we were able to pad our lead some more in the fifth with three big runs.”
Marblehead relief pitcher Chris Cannuscio closes out the upset win over Hopkinton during a Division 2 Round of 32 tournament game at Hopkinton High School on June 5. Marblehead is now moving on to the Sweet 16 after doubling up the Hillers, 8-4. Current photo / Ken McGagh
Chris Cannuscio, Marblehead’s ace closer, followed Whitman to the mound, and threw the final 2.1-innings to secure the upset victory. He gave up just one unearned run and one hit, while whiffing two to record the save.
Marblehead head baseball coach Mike Giardi talks to starting pitcher Drew Whitman and his infielders in the fifth inning of a Division 2 Round of 32 state tournament game against Hopkinson at Hopkinton High School on June 5. Giardi’s players ended up beating the Hillers in an upset, 8-4. Current photo / Ken McGagh Marblehead’s Drake Wyman slides safely into third during a Division 2 Round of 32 tournament game against Hopkinton at Hopkinton High School on June 5. The Magicians went on to win the game, 8-4. Current photo / Ken McGagh Marblehead centerfielder Shane Keough catches a Hopkinton fly ball during a Division 2 Round of 32 tournament game at Hopkinton High School on June 5. The Magicians went on to win the game, 8-4. Current photo / Ken McGagh Marblehead head baseball coach Mike Giardi talks to his players following their 8-4 win over Hopkinton in a Division 2 Round of 32 tournament game at Hopkinton High School on June 5. Current photo / Ken McGagh
The Magicians will now head a little further west to Westfield to face the 20th-ranked Bombers (12-7) on Thursday at 3:30 p.m. in a Sweet 16 encounter. Westfield defeated host Dartmouth (14-7), the 13th seed, in its Round of 32 game, 9-2.
