SOUTHWICK, Mass. – Jameson Bayliss and Eli Kristensen combined on a no-hitter Wednesday to lead the Mount Greylock baseball team to a 1-0 win over Southwick.
Bayliss went six innings, striking out 11 and walking six.
Kristensen struck out a pair in a scoreless seventh.
“Going into the bottom of the seventh, Jamo was out of pitches,” Mount Greylock coach Rick Paris said. “We had to make a big decision on who to go to to finish it up. I had the choice of two starters who were available, but after long thought and conversation with my coaching staff I decided to go with our youngest guy, Eli Kristensen, who came through for us just the other day in a huge spot. I wanted a guy who could stay composed and he had shown he has ice in his veins.
“[Kristensen] started out walking the leadoff guy, but that did not phase him or rattle him in any way. He then was able to get two outs before walking the No. 9 guy. As a coach, you always hate that. But with their leadoff guy up and two on, Eli was able to battle and with a full count he came with his fast ball and got the guy looking for a backward K to end the game.”
The Mounties manufactured a run in the top of the sixth inning without the benefit of a base hit.
First, Mason Canata drew a one-out walk.
He then stole second and went to third on a passed ball. Canata then scored on an RBI groundout by Tommy Art to break a scoreless tie.
Neither team ended up with a hit in the game. Southwick’s Anthony Roberts and Cameron Degray combined to strike out eight and walk four without allowing an earned run.
“These are the kind of games you love as a coach – clean great baseball,” Paris said. “We knew we were coming in to play a great team who was ranked high in Division 4.
“After losing [Tuesday against Monument Mountain] the way we did, we had a talk about needing a clean game to compete, and, if we could, we knew we could get a win especially with Bayliss on the bump. I also know one of our captains laid into the guys after our disappointing performance at Monument. So whatever he said lit a fire in our guys.”
Mount Greylock (6-8) goes to Greenfield on Friday.
