Connor Thornton continued his streak of grade-A starts for Walpole American Legion Post 104 last night, throwing six innings of one-run ball as Post 104 defeated Foxboro Post 93, 10-4.
After throwing consecutive no-hitters against Canton Post 24 and Westwood Post 320, Thornton held Foxboro hitless for the first two innings before letting up five hits and four walks in a 92-pitch performance. The righty improved to 3-0 on the season and Post 104 remained an unbeaten 12-0 while Post 93 fell to 6-4-1.
“It makes it easy when you have good defense behind you and you’re pitching with the lead,” Thornton said. “It was a team effort tonight. It has been all season.”
Thornton is unsure whether or not he will play ball at Northeastern next spring, but his performance so far this summer is indicative of an improvement that is at least appreciated by his current teammates. After going 4-2 with a 3.68 ERA in nearly 50 innings for Walpole High School in the spring, he has allowed five hits in 20 innings with a 0.35 ERA.
“Connor has been outstanding,” said Post 104 coach Chris Costello. “He’s been far better than we expected, which has given us incredible depth in our starting pitching. If we throw in (Eric) Fallon, that gives us five legit starters, and having that many arms is very important in this league.”
The Post 104 offense scored 10 runs off eight hits, taking advantage of seven walks and costly errors made by the Post 93 defense.
“Our defense was a little flat after having two days off,” said Foxboro coach Billy Travers. “We won at Norwood on Thursday and after a win like that you just want to get back out there and play again. But [starting pitcher] (Ben) Hastings needs some of those plays we missed. He’s a sinkerball and curveball pitcher, not a strikeout guy, so we didn’t help him out.”
After two scoreless innings, Walpole struck first in the top of the third when a leadoff double from Adam Nichols sparked a two-run rally.
With two outs in the top of the fourth inning, Jim Griffin and Nichols worked back-to-back walks and moved up a base on a Hastings wild pitch. An opposite field single off the bat of John Phelan plated the pair. Griffin and Nichols went a combined four-for-five with three walks and six runs.
But when asked what’s at the heart of Walpole’s perfect start, a modest Griffin replied, “Pitching.”
Thornton battled through the fourth, fifth, and sixth innings, but not without the help of his defense. He fanned consecutive batters with runners on to escape trouble in the fourth, a well-executed Ricky Graham-to-Pat Nicholson-to-Chris Ferro relay nabbed John Garabedian at home plate to end the fifth inning on a double to right by . Charles Ericson. Foxboro finally touched Thornton for a run in the six when an Anthony Pignone sacrifice fly scored Nick Thrasher.
Last Friday, Walpole pounded Stoughton Post 89, 13-1. Sam Murray got the win, throwing six innings of shutout ball and driving in three runs. Phelan went 4-for-5 with a home run, 2 RBI and 3 runs.
On Saturday, Post 104 squeezed by Norfolk Post 335 starter Drew Leenhouts, winning 4-2. Leenhouts handed Post 104 its only two losses last year, but was outmatched by Pat Nicholson, who earned his third win of the season. Nicholson went the distance and allowed one earned run while also knocking in the game-winning run.
