THE SENTINEL • THURSDAY, JUNE 23, 2011 PAGE 25 BASEBALL • LACROSSE • SOFTBALL • TENNIS • TRACK and FIELD • BOYS VOLLEYBALL SPORTS ORIOLES FUTURE Belchertown Little League update BELCHERTOWN – Belchertown Little League action continued this week with games in the Minor League Division. Monday, June 13 Easthampton Savings Bank – 5 • Country Bank - 4 In a well played baseball game, ESB was able to withstand a last inning rally to hold on to a 5-4 victory over Country Bank at Mini Fenway. ESB jumped on top 2-0, followed by a three-run second inning effort by Country Bank, putting the Country Bankers up 3-2 after three innings. ESB pushed three runs across in the fourth inning, courtesy of a three-run double by Connor Nevin, making the score 5-3 in favor of Easthampton Savings Bank. In the bottom of the last inning, Graham Perlak and Jackson Crist led of with walks. Cole Fitzgerald knocked in an RBI single to cut the lead to 5-4. ESB was able to strike out the side to end the game, leaving runners at second and third. Austin Endelos, Garrett Husssey, and Eric Paige turned in strong pitching efforts for Country Bank, striking out 12 batters and walking six. Defensive play of the game featured Endelos throwing out a runner stealing third base, connecting with Cole Fitzgerald for a key out late in the game. PLEASE SEE UPDATE, PAGE 29 Tournaments run a solid foundation for the future By Bob Schron Turley Publications Sports Correspondent BELCHERTOWN - Belchertown’s second consecutive late season Western Mass tournament run in baseball added more power to the team’s improved place in Division 2. But first-year coach Chuck Jasak is determined to take the program even farther. Though playing predominantly Division 1 schools, the Orioles captured a Division 2 berth with their 5-1 victory over South Hadley on May 27. It gave Belchertown a 3-1 record against Division 2 teams and a play-in game against Hoosac Valley. Belchertown won that opening round game, 5-2. But two days later the Orioles (8-15) were defeated by Drury, 13-5. Both contests were on the road. “We came back and made the tournament, which was a statement,” said Jasak. “In the beginning it was new for all of us. From competing in the tournament, I think we saw the important of of-season preparation. Ideally, our returning players will hit the weight room and play in indoor facilities over the winter.” He said, “My goal here is to create a program which is attractive to college’s recruiters in the area. I want our level of talent to be continuously improving. I want to see my guys go to college. You see the level of competitiveness growing nationally. Kids all over the country are putting in the time — in weight training, hitting off the tee, taking private lessons — it’s never been more competitive.” Jasak believes that increased specialization made the game better at the scholastic level “You see it in all sports,” he said. “In football, the quarterback would previously run, throw and kick, but now there are three players for that. Runners are specialized and receivers utilize more speed and sprinting techniques. It’s no different in baseball. We have starters, closers, and in the field, the players focus in on their own spots in the infield and outfield.” Jasak felt the Orioles competed hard all season. “The kids bought into what I was trying to do and I appreciate that from them,” he said. “While I encourage off-season preparation, I’m very supportive of players Matt Lattanzi (20) provided solid leadership both on and off the field this season. FILE PHOTOS Mike Foley (9) provided solid leadership for the Belchertown varsity baseball team this past season. Sutton closes out Orioles in state semis By Bob Schron Turley Publications Sports Correspondent BELCHERTOWN - Belchertown’s dream season has ended. Advancing to the state semifinal round off of its sensational 3-2 victory over Lee in the Western Mass title match, Belchertown (20-2) was unable to keep up with Sutton, the Central Mass. champion. Sutton swept Belchertown, 5-0, consistently controlling play from the baseline. “Sutton’s a great team,” said coach Marilyn Higgins. “There wasn’t much we could do. By far, they were the best team we played all season.” Sweeping the Belchertown singles corps that had been a guiding force all year, Sutton prevented the Orioles’ singles’ players from generating any type of momentum. playing all sports, but there’s time to focus in on baseball skills, too.” The season produced peaks and valleys but finished well. “The first 10 games on the schedule were difficult, but when we beat East Longmeadow, I thought that win would catapult us. It was a big win, but we didn’t really pick us up the way we had hoped, but we did play better at the end of the season. “I thought the play of our seniors was exceptional. Mike Foley was one of two fantastic captains. And Matt Lattanzi, though he wasn’t a captain, acted like one. In the way he spoke to the underclassmen and in the way he carried himself, he was very much a leader.” If Belchertown was unable to generate momentum from its win over the Spartans, Jasak wouldn’t fault his team completely. “I disagree with the Walker System,” he stated. “The system doesn’t judge weight of schedule with accuracy. It judges only wins, not losses. Since we play Division 1 teams, our strength of schedule wasn’t taken into account fairly.” Relegated to the 10th seed in the tournament, the Orioles were forced into a complex weekend in the opening two rounds of the postseason. They played two games in three days. That didn’t bother Jasak as much as the distance that the team was forced travel. “Everyone has pressure in the tournament,” he acknowledged. “But because of our placement, we had to make two trips to the Berkshires in three days. That puts a lot of pressure on the team to perform well. For the season that we had, I felt there was no reward.” Bob Schron is a sports correspondent for Turley Publications. He can be reached at bschron@turley.com. PLEASE SEE STATE SEMIS, PAGE 30 Though stymied by Tigers, Lady Orioles may still be on the rise By Bob Schron Turley Publications Sports Correspondent BELCHERTOWN - Belchertown’s girls tennis team fought through adversity this season to become one of Western Massachusetts most surprising teams. Belchertown (14-5) qualified for Western Mass late in the season. With its opening round match against South Hadley at home, the young Orioles were hoping that the slight advantage might prove the difference in the match. It almost did. At first singles, South Hadley’s Jill Beiermeister defeated Deana Nowakowski in a three-set, three and a half hour match, 6-3, 5-7, 6-2 as the Tigers outlasted the Orioles, 3-2.. The Orioles Rachel Gustafson won in second singles for Belchertown. The first doubles team of Hilary Gustafson and Pegah Shakeraneh also prevailed, setting up Nowakowski’s down-to-the-wire match. PLEASE SEE LADY ORIOLES, PAGE 30