HARDWICK – The Hazen Union boys baseball team battled a jam-packed Capital League schedule last week, highlighted by a comeback win against Oxbow on the road to improve to 3-7.
photo by Vanessa Fournier
The Wildcats had a tough start to the week, falling to undefeated Thetford Academy, 17-2, at home on Monday. Hazen stayed within striking distance of Thetford for much of the game before an 11-run sixth inning blew the game wide open. Sam Parkman earned the win for the Panthers, striking out eight. Miles Lawrence and Xander Oshoniyi combined for five hits and seven RBI in the win. Thetford (8-0) continues to pace a top-heavy Division III bracket.
Hazen scraped out a pair of runs in the top of the sixth inning and four more in the seventh to stun Oxbow 13-8 on the road on Tuesday. Jon Sicard (2-5), Kiah Cloutier (3-5) and Avery Loomis (3-4) capped off the rally in the seventh with consecutive hits. Sicard finished on the mound to earn the win for the Wildcats. Owen Skorstad and Chayse Newell combined for four more hits for Hazen. Justin Montgomery added a hit and three runs in the win. Brogdan Grey and Parker Calley each had two hits and a double for the Olympians. Griffin Pike took the loss as Oxbow dropped to 2-4 on the season.
photo by Vanessa Fournier
Hazen nearly made it two in a row on Friday but couldn’t find any offense late in a 4-2 home loss to Randolph. Dylan Delaney had two hits and struck out four to earn the win for the Galloping Ghosts. Jackson Bascom struck out three to earn the save as Randolph (5-4) broke a 2-2 tie in the fifth inning with a run and added insurance in the sixth. Grayson McNaughten took another hard-luck loss on the hill for Hazen, scattering four hits and striking out four. Montgomery had two more hits, including a double. Skorstad and McNaughten had a hit and scored a run apiece in the loss.
“The Oxbow and Randolph games are examples of what this team can do when we stay in the fight. Our next game against Spaulding is an example of what happens when we get fatigued and let our emotions get the best of us after a long, hard week,” said head coach Shaun Allen.
photo by Vanessa Fournier
Matt Fecteau struck out five over five innings of work and helped his own cause at the plate with a pair of hits to lead Spaulding to a 13-3 home win over Hazen on Saturday. Tanner Arsenault (two Doubles) and Tent Loftus (three RBI) powered the Crimson Tide offense as they improved to 5-3 in the Division II standings. Skorstad took the loss on the mound for Hazen, Montgomery kept a hot bat with two more hits and freshman Trevor Smith added a hit and a run.
“The rain delay Friday night made it tough on the boys to get back on the bus Saturday morning, 13 hours later. Spaulding can no doubt hit the ball. We did a good job of limiting our errors in this game, just didn’t throw enough strikes and weren’t able to match our opponents’ intensity,” said Allen.
The Wildcats were scheduled to host U-32 at Hudson Fields on Tuesday, celebrating McNaughten, Montgomery and Skorstad on Senior Night. They wrap up their week with a trip to North Country and will make the short trip to Peoples Academy next Tuesday. All home games can be live-streamed on Hardwick Community Television (hctv.us).
