Schaetzel remains hot as Canton beats SMSA to earn state tournament berth

In back-to-back games, Canton pitcher Jake Schaetzel (14) earned complete game victories as Canton qualified for the state tournament for the first time since 2013. (Photo courtesy Bill Brewster)

CANTON, May 9 – Pitcher Jake Schaetzel pitched his second complete game of the season to lead the Canton High baseball team to its seventh win in the last eight games as the Warriors outlasted Sport Medicine Science Academy, 3-2 Monday at Bowdoin Field.

Schaetzel (2-3) also went the distance on Thursday in a 1-0 win over Somers. On Monday, Schaetzel scattered seven hits, struck out nine and walked just one to earn the win. In the last two games, he has fanned 16 batters and allowed just three runs.

Canton (8-4, 7-4 NCCC) scored twice in the fifth inning to take the lead for good. Down by one, James Mattson tripled and Ethan Burke followed with a walk. Burke moved to second on bunt from Nate Fulham. Mattson scored on a sacrifice fly from Brandon Peters to tie the game at 2-2. Burke scored from third on Jake Mansur’s RBI single to give Canton a 3-2 advantage.

SMSA (10-5, 8-4 NCCC) had two runners on in the seventh inning but Schaetzel got Theo Elsner to strike out to end the contest.

With the win, Canton clinched a berth in the CIAC’s Class S tournament for the first time since 2013 and just the second time in the last five seasons.

SMSA took a 1-0 lead on a passed ball. Canton tied it in the third inning on Trey Van deBogart’s RBI double to center field that scored Brandon Peters from first base. The Tigers took a 2-1 lead in the fifth inning on a RBI double from Spencer Pringle.

Canton, which is 5-1 in one-run games so far this season, returns to the diamond on Tuesday when they visit Walker Field in Winsted to face Berkshire League foe Gilbert at 3:45 p.m. On Wednesday, Canton hosts Windsor Locks at Bowdoin Field followed by Thursday’s game against Ellington at home and Saturday’s game at noon against East Windsor at Bowdoin Field.

Canton 3, SMSA 2
At Canton
SMSA (10-5)       100  010  0  — 2-7-0
Canton (8-4)       001  020  x  — 3-6-1
Jose Rivera and Theo Elsner; Jake Schaetzel and Sam Beadle; WP: Schaetzel (2-3); LP: Rivera; 2B: Spencer Pringle (S), Trey Van deBogart (C); 3B: James Mattson (C)