A pitching edge: Nor'Easters take aim at first legion state title

By John Shimer
Staff writer

August 05, 2008 12:30 am

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Rivaling the type of success that this summer's other blockbuster hit "The Dark Knight" has attained, the District 8 champion Newburyport Nor'Easters have provided thrills and chills on their way to their first state tournament appearance.

As part of the eight-team, double-elimination tournament, Post 150 gets underway today (12:30 p.m.) against Hanover at Szot Park in Chicopee. The winner of the Nor'Easters game will move into the winner's bracket to face the winner of Walpole vs. Chicopee, and the loser moves into the loser's bracket to face the loser of that same game, both to be held on Wednesday. Rounding out the day one games, East Longmeadow will play Weymouth, and Lowell will face Milford.

Each team is guaranteed at least two games and will continue playing each day as long as it avoids its second loss with the winner to be determined Saturday. The Nor'Easters are looking to win their first-ever state title in 82-year-history of the Massachusetts Legion baseball tournament.

With a deep pitching staff at his disposal, Nor'Easters coach Tim Southall decided to throw his stalwart workhorse Triton grad Joe Katin against Hanover in the hopes that Katin would be more equipped to bounce back later in the week to pitch again after a high pitch total in game one.

"I'm going with Katin because if he throws 100 pitches or so, he can come back pretty quick and be a little stronger later in the week," said Southall of his rotation. "(Brooks School Michael) Johnson will definitely be the Game 2 starter.

"If we can get past the first couple of games with the staff we have, I think that would really benefit us," Southall said. "I don't know how many teams have four quality starters and the depth in their bullpen."

Katin will be responsible for stopping potentially one of the top hitting sides left in Massachusetts.

"I did a little research and they hit real well with a lot of power," said Southall. "Going into the year, they thought they would be able to score a lot of runs and that pitching would be a low point. But they (the pitchers) stepped up and did real well, too. At this point in the season, there are no slouches left."

Katin, a Daily News All-Star at Triton last spring, will be looking to avoid the long ball.

"Basically I just need to throw strikes, trust my defense and keep it low," said Katin before his start. "I heard the team we are playing has a lot of power hitters, so I want to keep the hits on the ground and hopefully our offense will come through."

According to Southall, defense will play another major factor in the team's success this week.

"We have to play good defense because if you give teams four or five outs here you're going to be in trouble," said Southall, whose team is anchored up the middle with Pentucket catcher Peter Creamer, Georgetown shortstop Tim Holland, Pentucket second baseman Jordan Silva, and Georgetown center fielder Joe Esposito. "If we're strong up the middle, we will be OK with the pitching staff we have."

"We are definitely going to beat some teams while we are down here because we have a good drawing, and hopefully we can go on to regionals," said Holland. "Defense is going to be crucial. (The coach and I) were talking, and we can't give up four or five outs an inning because that's how you give up runs and get beat. But I doubt than anyone except maybe Walpole, who are a real good team, can match up with the type of pitching we have."

The first game will also go a long way in determining how far Newburyport can go. With 27-1 Walpole, a team that has made the state tournament round three of the last four years, looming as a potential round two matchup, a game one loss could be potentially devastating to the Nor'Easters chances.

"We will know a lot more at 3 p.m. where we stand," said Southall. "I think we are capable of absolutely anything, this is all gravy right now. We are going to go out, play our game, and see where it takes us."

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