RallyNorth.net

Shepard pitches Masco past Madison Park and into North final

Thursday, June, 05 By Bill Kipouras
Staff writer

LYNN | They were sporting seven .400-plus hitters, had scored 188 runs, collected 164 RBIs and had a dynamite .429 on-base percentage | not to mention a .315 composite team batting mark.

Masconomet Regional cruised through the Cape Ann League this spring en route to claiming a share of the Large title and bruised almost every opponent along the way.

The Chieftains was able to survive on just three measly singles yesterday, though, because southpaw Kyle Shepard (7-0) was at his slinging best. He chalked up 11 Ks with four walks (two in the final inning) and otherwise pitched a near masterpiece in a 5-1 victory over Madison Park at the New Fraser Field.

Madison Park, a shocking winner over top-seeded Winchester in the quarterfinals, had a short stay in the semifinals, contributing as the Chieftains (18-5) had three runs cross the plate on two errors and a passed ball.

Masconomet coach Joe Marchesi was obviously thrilled to reach the North final at Lowell's LaLecheur Park tomorrow (7 p.m.) against neighboring Danvers, a 4-1 winner over Belmont. But he warned, "We won't win this next game if play like this. We had three hits against an average pitcher and we were popping up a lot."

Like the old adage goes, however, if you get pitching and defense | especially the type of defense that third baseman Pat Matvichuk turned in (a dazzling five assists) | then you'll win more often than not.

Sophomore catcher Colin Shepard, the pitcher's brother, participated in a double play and threw out a runner at second base, while left fielder Dan Duval erased a runner at second base to close out the second inning.

Despite facing an all-righthanded Madison Park lineup, Kyle Shepard was at the top of his game, using 109 pitches in his first complete game of the season. The Stonehill College scholarship recipient gave up an unearned run in the opening inning when MP leadoff hitter Joe Figueroa singled, took second when Colin Shepard's throw was dropped, moved to third on a wild pitch and scored on Jamil Moquete's single.

Shepard showed exceptional poise and just got better and better as the game progressed. He ranked this win and his semifinal win in the '07 North semifinals as the best of his high school career.

His counterpart, Giovanni Abreu, gave up just three hits, but also allowed five walks (three of whom scored) and his error-prone team had its eight-game win streak snapped.

"That lefty was terrific," Madison Park (14-7) coach Mike Vaggiano said.

"(Shepard's) probably the best pitcher we've seen all season. We ran into some outs and that hurt us. Our guy (Abreu) had no support. They played good defense. That third baseman was outstanding. They played a sound game and took advantage."

Andrew Roach's two-run single that scored Evan Bunker (single) and James Reardon (walk) made it 4-1 in the three-run fourth for the Chieftains. A wild pitch scored Roach to cap the three-run burst.

Kyle Shepard had walked in the third, stole second, moved up Riordan's single and a passed ball got Shepard home earlier.

"We played great defense once again," Kyle Shepard said. "I pitched well after the first inning. I threw the curve and a lot of fastballs. I was able to bounce back, that was the main thing."

"I like pitching in big games. I love it," the slim hurler added. "We want to go as deep as we can in the tournament."

Although Kyle Shepard wouldn't say it was his best game of the year, some of his teammates felt it was | including Matvichuk, the glue-fingered junior third baseman from Middleton.

"He shut them down, like he always does. It's great to play behind him," Matvichuk said.

"The thing is, I had five balls to handle today and a couple the last game | and I only had eight to me all regular season! That's because Kyle is either blowing them away or getting pop-ups. I finally got some action," Kyle laughed.

"Definitely, I think it was Kyle's best outing, or at least close to it. What a performance! There's not that much they can do when he's throwing that heat."

Shepard's brother echoed the same sentiments.

"My brother's great. He needed to locate his pitch for more strikeouts, and he did exactly that," said the catcher. "They couldn't catch up to his fastball, and when he needed it he'd throw off-speed to throw them off balance. I'd say it was his best, definitely."

Hitting in the No. 7 spot, Roach wasn't left much on the bases with all the heavies in front of him. He had only 11 RBIs until notching Nos. 12 and 13 on his timely two-run single (off a fastball) in the fourth.

"I just wanted to make contact," Roach said, "and got a good piece of the ball."