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05/21/2016 12:00 AMAfter a slow start to the spring, Head Coach Dan Driscoll’s Old Saybrook baseball team picked the right time to get hot as the Rams pushed their win streak to six in a row and clinched a spot in the Class S State Tournament to boot last week. Old Saybrook defeated rival Westbrook 2-1 to avenge an early season defeat and then topped Hyde-Hillhouse 14-1 for its eighth win of the year that locked up a spot in the state tourney.
First up was a rematch with Westbrook at home on May 16. Old Saybrook had lost 14-4 on April 15 and so the club had this one circled on the calendar. The Rams ultimately got their revenge by winning the game in walk-off fashion in the bottom of the seventh inning. Senior Nick Sweet singled to start the frame, stole second base, and then reached third on a passed ball. With the winning run 90 feet away, Westbrook skipper Dan Hanssen decided to intentionally walk the next two batters to set up a force play that never happened as Sweet raced home on another passed ball for the 2-1 Old Saybrook win.
“It was a good game and a good win and I’m glad we came out on top. They smacked us around pretty good the last time we played and the guys really wanted this one,” Coach Driscoll said. “They know most of the Westbrook players, so this was a big one for them. I thought [Westbrook pitcher Alex Hartzell] pitched terrific today and I thought our guy Dan Cote did a great job of mixing things up and keeping them off-balance.”
Only a freshman, Cote started the game and went six innings for Old Saybrook, allowing just three hits while finishing with the no-decision. Sophomore Ryan DuBord threw a scoreless seventh inning to get the victory. The Rams scored their first run in the third inning, when senior Ryan Bergeron tripled and scored on Justin Philips’s slow roller to short that tied it at 1-1.
The win pushed Old Saybrook to 7-11 and moved the club one game away from making states. Then on May 21, the Rams took the journey to New Haven knowing a victory would give them their first appearance in the big dance since 2012. None of Old Saybrook’s players had ever made the State Tournament and so it was a huge opportunity for the Rams and their senior quintet of Clay Duffy, Sweet, Bergeron, Alex Kaar, and James Henderson. Old Saybrook took advantage of the chance by winning 14-1 to move to 8-11 and punch its ticket to states. Duffy was the winning pitcher by scattering five hits over six innings. Sweet led the Rams at the plate, going 4-for-5 with three doubles and three RBI. Sophomore Haydon Lockhart helped the cause by going 3-for-4 with a double and two RBI, while junior Philip Ledwith was 2-for-4 with three RBI.
“Last time we went to states was 2012, when we finished 10-10. We have had two, three, and six wins the past three seasons. It feels great to get back to the tournament,” said Driscoll. “I’m excited for this group of seniors who have never experienced the State Tournament and I’m excited for this younger group to feel this winning way. We faced some adversity through the first half of the season, but this group never gave up and kept working and fighting to become a better team. They believe in themselves now and I think we can be a dangerous team in this tournament.”
Things looked bleak for the Rams in earlier in the month as the team was 2-11 entering a May 4 matchup at Hale-Ray. Old Saybrook pounded the Noises 11-0 to begin a streak that now sits at six straight with one regular season game left versus St. Bernard. The Rams’ late-season push has been bolstered by some solid starting pitching.
“We have been getting quality pitching from Ryan DuBord and Clay Duffy. They aren’t walking guys, they are hitting their spots, and the guys behind them have been making the plays,” said Driscoll. “Also, freshman Dan Cote entered the rotation after seeing some action against Bacon Academy and he has done a fantastic job for such a young kid.”
Old Saybrook’s offense has also seen a spike in production to fuel the recent surge.
“The guys have changed their approach at the plate and bought into what we are trying to do,” Driscoll said. “Before, they were up their swinging, but now, they are looking to be productive. The guys are mentally tougher, which makes for tougher outs and puts more pressure on the opposing pitchers. We are moving runners over and getting guys across the plate by making contact, trusting in each other, and believing in our coaching. The team’s attitude at the plate has changed and we are hitting over .300 as a team during the streak.”
Another reason for Old Saybrook’s great play is the performance of sophomore catcher Lockhart. Batting leadoff for the Rams, Lockhart is hitting .350 on the season with 23 hits and 19 RBI to go with some superb defense behind the plate.
“Haydon has been tremendous become a leader as a sophomore. He does a great job with the pitching staff, has thrown runners out trying to steal second and third, and made two big double plays for us recently,” Driscoll said. “He’s also been a key to our offense in the leadoff spot.”
From the Sidelines
Dan Driscoll is in his sixth season as the head coach of Old Saybrook baseball and he’s assisted by Jeff Buck and Dave Plotkin.
Old Saybrook’s senior captains are Clay Duffy and James Henderson.
The Rams’ six-game win streak has featured victories against Hale-Ray (11-0), Eat Hampton (1-0), Old Lyme (4-3), Portland (9-5), Westbrook (2-1) and Hyde-Hillhouse (14-1).