2016 Royals Shutout Mets for Metro West 28+ Crown in Boston

Boston Men’s Baseball League, Metro West 28+ Division

Sudbury Royals 4, Hudson Mets 0

‘Shepard Twirls Shutout in Championship Game’

Submitted by Anthony Perry, Sudbury Royals

The 2016 Boston Men’s Baseball League MetroWest 28+ Division season came to a close this afternoon as the Sudbury Royals earned a tough fought double-header sweep of the defending champion, Hudson Mets, to capture the championship. This was in fact a rematch of last season’s championship series in which the Mets took home the inaugural championship. This is the second year that the Metrowest Division has been a part of the BMBL.

The first game of the series paired a couple of rookie left-handers who rolled out impressive 2016 campaigns. For the Royals, they trotted out Chris Dion – a Saint Joseph’s College of Maine grad who went 5-0 with a save in the regular season to the tune of a 1.02 ERA over 40 innings. He was just as dominate in the post-season as he held the Framingham Orioles scoreless in his only appearance. The Mets countered with Steve Cadoret – a Boston College grad who spent some time playing professional baseball across the globe. Cadoret thrived in his four appearances as he did not allow a run over 17 innings.

Both teams traded zeros through the first frame but the Royals struck first in the home half of the second. Ryan Bere laced a bases loaded single off the back of Cadoret which allowed Matt McDougal-Shaver to scamper home for the early 1-0 lead. There were a few rain delays mixed in as the game progress and after one of them, the Mets were able to solve Dion’s puzzle and strike for two runs. In the two-run fifth inning, Randy Fenton would start the rally by lining one off the glove of Bere. Bear Dunn would work a walk but not before Fenton was able to swipe second with a stolen base. A sacrifice bunt from Al Robillard set the stage for Marc Exarhopolous – better known as “Ex”. Ex would then tie the game with an RBI ground out to the shortstop. Shaun McAndrews followed with another ground ball to short, however an error was made which allowed Dunn to cross the plate and give the Mets a 2-1 lead.

Hudson added an insurance run in the sixth inning as Corey Beck singled with one out and later scored on Kevin McGuiness’s RBI single.

The Royals are a resilient bunch and proved that they are never really out of a ball game. With one out, Stephen Robb reached base via a throwing error which was followed by singles from Juan Parra and Brian Schools. That brought up potential league MVP, Anthony Perry to the plate with the game on the line. And he did not disappoint. Perry promptly smashed a 1-0 offering over the right fielders head for a bases clearing double, scoring Robb, Parra and Schools in the process to give his team a 4-3 lead. Dion would then finish what he started with a 1-2-3 seventh to move the Royals within a win of the title.

Game two featured yet another stellar pitching matchup as the Royals sent Jon Shepard, a Wheaton College product, to the mound with his 2-0, 0.00 ERA with a 19:1 K/BB ratio in 14 postseason innings. With the season on the line, the Mets gave the ball to MetroWest veteran – Graham Gaudette who touted a 2-0, 0.54 ERA regular season.

The Royals struck first yet again in the second inning as Rich Iandoli fisted a ball over the shortstop’s glove which was just enough as Mike Feetham was able to slide in safely for the early 1-0 lead.

Sudbury then added a few more runs off Gaudette in the fourth. The Royals were able to load the bases with nobody out on a single by Perry and walks to Fetham and Shepard. Gaudette bared down and was able to retire the next two hitters on a foul pop-up and strikeout. With the count 0-1 to Bere at the dish and Gaudette pitching out of the windup, Perry guessed right and took off for home and was successful in stealing home and adding to the slim lead, 2-0. Feetham, who took third on the steal, then crossed home plate for a 3-0 lead on an errant throw. The fourth and final run for the Royals came of off Robillard in the sixth. McDougal-Shaver would single through the left side with two outs that brought home Perry. One run was all that Shepard needed as the right-hander threw a complete game shutout, striking out nine Mets without issuing a walk.

For their efforts, both Shepard and Perry were named MetroWest 28+ Division Championship Series Co-MVPs.

On behalf of the entire MetroWest League, we would like to thank Kayla McNamara and the Town of Sudbury for their support and use of Curtis Field all summer long.