
Jack Rose was 3-for-4 with two doubles, a home run and four RBI in Tuesday’s Class S tournament loss to Sacred Heart. (Photo courtesy Paul Amrose)
CANTON, May 29 – Sacred Heart’s Noah Knappe hit a three-run home run and the visiting Hearts stole home to score an insurance run in the top of the seventh inning to beat Canton, 6-5, in the first round of the CIAC Class S tournament Tuesday at Bowdoin Field.
Canton (12-9) never led but they tied the game in the bottom of the fifth inning at 4-4 on a two-run home run from starting pitcher James Mattson – his team-leading fourth home run of the season
The Hearts broke the tie with one run in the top of the sixth inning on a RBI single from Jacob Janatiss after the Warriors gave up two walks. In the seventh, Sacred Heart extended their lead to 6-4 thanks to another two walks. Knappe walked, moved to second on a wild pitch, moved to third on a sacrifice fly and scored on a steal of home.
The Warriors cut the lead to one in the bottom of the seventh inning. Jack Mansur reached on an error and got to second base. With two outs, Mansur scored on a Jack Rose RBI double to right field. But Sacred Heart’s Hector Alejandro struck out Canton’s Ryan Enns to end the game and the season for the Warriors.

Pitcher James Mattson allowed seven hits and five runs (three earned) as he lost for the first time this season as a pitcher. (Photo courtesy Paul Amrose)
Rose was 3-for-4 with two doubles, a home run and four RBI for Canton while Mattson was 2-for-4 with a double. Mattson, who lost for the first time this season on the mound, gave up seven hits, struck out three and walked three.
It was the second victory of the season for the Hearts over Canton. Sacred Heart beat Canton, 13-2 in five innings in late April.
Sacred Heart 6, Canton 5
At Canton
Sacred Heart (12-9) 003 101 1 — 6-7-1
Canton (12-9) 011 020 1 — 5-8-1
James Edwards, Hector Alejandro (7) and unknown; James Mattson, Michael Sullivan (7) and Joey Fitzgerald; WP: Edwards; Save: Alejandro; LP: Mattson (5-1); 2B: Jack Rose (Ca) 2, Mattson (Ca), Kyle Barbieri (SH); HR: James Edwards (SH), Noah Knappe (SH), Jack Rose (Ca)
Simsbury 3, Brien McMahon 2
SIMSBURY, May 29 –Jack McNally’s two-run double in the bottom of the sixth inning helped the Simsbury High baseball team move on in the CIAC Class LL tournament Tuesday with a 3-2 win over No. 25 Brien McMahon-Norwalk at Memorial Field.
The visiting Senators (11-9) took a 2-1 lead in the fourth inning thanks to an two-out error that allowed two runs to score.
But No. 8 Simsbury (16-5) rallied in the sixth inning. Peter Phillips led off the inning with a double to center field. With one out, Brandon White reached on an error with Phillips moving to third base. McNally followed with a two-run double to put Simsbury ahead for good.
Simsbury tried to extend the lead on Jack Donofrio’s single but McNally was thrown out at the plate, trying to score from second base.
In the bottom of the seventh, Simsbury reliever Brandon White struck out the side to earn the three-inning save.
The Trojans advance to Wednesday’s second round where they will host No. 9 East Hartford (15-6) at 3:30 p.m. at Memorial Field in Simsbury. The Trojans have won seven straight games.
Simsbury was led by Donofrio, who pitched four innings and struck out eight to earn the win on the mound. At the plate, he was 3-for-4. Phillips was 3-for-3 for Simsbury while McNally and Mason Valentino were both 2-for-3. Tate Valentino had a one-out RBI single in the third inning for Simsbury.
Simsbury 3, Brien McMahon 2
At Simsbury
Brien McMahon (11-9) 000 200 0 – 2-2-1
Simsbury (16-5) 001 002 x – 3-11-1
Frankie Greco, Max Pompani (6) and Anthony Socci; Jack Donofrio, Brandon White (5) and Mason Valentio; WP: Donofrio; LP: Pompani; Save: White; 2B: Jack McNally (S), Peter Phillips (S)
Gerry deSimas, Jr., is the editor and founder of The Collinsville Press. He is an award-winning writer and has been covering sports in Connecticut and New England for more than 40 years. He was inducted into the New England High School Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2018.

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