HIGH SCHOOL ROUNDUP: Whitman-Hanson baseball coach Pat Cronin gets career win No. 500

If you're going to get a milestone win, might as well make it a thriller.

That's just what the Whitman-Hanson High baseball team did Friday, presenting coach Pat Cronin with his 500th career win in memorable fashion with a 3-2 road victory in 9 innings over Patriot League powerhouse Plymouth North.

The Panthers led 2-0, fell into a 2-2 tie and almost got walked off in the bottom of the seventh before left fielder Trevor Googins threw a runner out at home to preserve the tie and force extra innings.

Googins eventually won it in the ninth with a hit that scored Evan Yakavonis from second base.

"It was so exciting for these kids," Cronin said. "I was so proud of them. ... To win down there in Plymouth is a huge thing for us because we very rarely do it."

Senior pitcher Aidan Barry was a star for W-H (6-8, 6-6 Patriot League) working 8 innings and allowing 2 runs (both unearned) on 6 hits with 7 strikeouts and 2 walks. Barry gave way to freshman lefthander Ryan Baker in the bottom of the ninth but still had the honor of making the final play as he gobbled up a game-ending ground ball at second base and threw to Ethan Smith to touch off the Panthers' celebration.

"Barry was immense for eight innings," Cronin said. "He put the team on his shoulders."

Cronin won 421 games in a long, decorated career at East Bridgewater. He's 79-36 in six seasons at Whitman-Hanson since returning to his alma mater. As a player he won a 1965 Class B EMass title with the Panthers.

"First of all, it's kind of shocking, to be honest with you," he said of the milestone. "I came over to Whitman-Hanson to try to resurrect a program that had always been good but had fallen on some hard times. My vision was only short-term – looking at day-to-day, week-to-week, season-to-season. These kids at Whitman-Hanson took up where the EB kids left off."

Cronin said he values the 500 wins because the number reflects well on his players at both EB and Whitman-Hanson.

"The wins, when they mention 200, 300, 400, they were always important to me for one reason – it pointed out that the kids who played in those schools were special," he said. "They made their baseball programs special. The kids at EB made that a baseball town, a baseball school. ... That's what's great about this. I'm a big believer that if you've got a good program, the way you sustain it is to continue to promote it so they feel like they're part of a tradition. That's what happened over there.

"And at Whitman-Hanson they bought into it right away. The talent didn't just show up because I went to those schools. The talent was always there. It just needed a nip and a tuck and a point-you-in-the-right-direction, in my opinion.

"Hurray for the kids at EB and hurray for the kids at Whitman-Hanson. It was a privilege and an honor to be able to coach those kids. I'm glad that the light is shining on both (programs right now)."

In other high school action on Friday:

BASEBALL

Hanover 11, North Quincy 4: On Senior Day, senior Mike Losordo had 2 hits, including his first varsity home run, and drove in 4 runs as the Hawks (7-6) won a Patriot League game at home. Hanover had 15 hits, including two each by Carter Zielinski (3 RBI), Johnny McDonald, Christian Henderson, Jack Fish and Robbie Hanna. Evan Hebblethwaite (4-1) earned the complete-game win, striking out 6. Vinny O'Leary had 2 hits and scored a run for NQ (5-10). Kevin Pritchard (RBI double), Charlie Ambroult (hit, sac fly) and Scott Ritz (RBI, steal) also played well in the loss.

More: MIAA releases updated tournament power rankings for high school baseball (May 13)

Milton 6, St. Mary’s 0: Brian Foley improved to 5-0, allowing 1 hit over 6 innings with 9 strikeouts and 4 walks for the Wildcats (13-2). Owen McHugh struck out the side in the seventh. Charlie Walker was 2-for-4 with a pair of homers and 5 RBI, and Marcus Ollivierre was 3-for-3 with a double and 2 runs.

More: Wildcat strike: Milton still No. 1 in South Shore high school baseball top 10 rankings

Braintree 13, Brockton 0 (5 inn.): Jeff Charron hit a 3-run homer, and Dan Surette had 2 hits and 3 RBI for the Wamps (11-4).

Duxbury 9, Marshfield 2: Freshman Jack Gallagher earned the win in his first varsity start, allowing 2 runs on 5 hits over 6⅓ innings with 3 strikeouts.

Cardinal Spellman 8, Southeastern 3: Jason Kelly threw a complete game with 5 strikeouts for the Cardinals. Sophomore Michael Boutiette had a two-out, 3-run triple.

SOFTBALL

Hanover 16, North Quincy 3: The Hawks (10-4, 9-3 Patriot League) were led by Abby Hanna (3 hits, double, 3 runs, 5 RBI), Kaelyn Chase (3 hits, 3 runs, 2 RBI), Kate Baldinelli (2 doubles, 2 runs, 2 RBI), Erin Condon (2 hits, triple) and Noey Giardina (3 hits, 2 doubles, 4 runs). Winning pitcher Abby Smith allowed 4 hits with 10 strikeouts. She also had 3 hits and 2 RBI.

More: MIAA releases updated tournament power rankings for high school softball (May 13)

Archbishop Williams 17, St. Joseph Prep-Boston 0: Jess Keefe was 3-for-4 with 3 runs and 4 RBI to lead the Bishops (11-4). Emma Chenette was 3-for-5 with a double and a triple, 2 runs and 3 RBI. Shelby Parr and Jill Ondrick combined on the shutout.

Cardinal Spellman 17, Fontbonne Academy 1: Caseley Dimestico (3 hits), Emma Barnes (2 hits, 4 RBI), Roslyn Quinn (2 hits) and Lucy LaCara (2 hits) powered the Cardinals (8-8). Ava Loud threw a 2-hitter with 9 strikeouts.

Marshfield 18, Duxbury 9: Junior Jess Morrison hit two home runs, including a grand slam, and drove in 8 runs for the Rams (9-7, 7-5 Patriot League). Senior Ella Staffier and sophomore Maddie Powers each had 3 hits.

West Bridgewater 9, Bishop Connolly 1: Amanda Jacques was 3-for-4 with 2 runs scored to lead WB. Olivia Razza (2 RBI), Lilly Martel, Ava Matta and Natalie Fredericksen each had 2 hits. McKenzie Craig threw a 7-hitter with 8 strikeouts.

Milton 9, Canton 0: Abigail Hunt threw a 1-hitter, and Saddie Steuterman was 4-for-4 with a triple and 2 RBI for the Wildcats (8-4). Alona Lynch (3-for-3, double), Shakura Lynch (2-for-4, double) and Christina McA'Nulty (2-for-3, 3 runs) also starred.

Walpole 12, Abington 0: The Green Wave (11-2) lost on the road.

GIRLS LACROSSE

Scituate 15, Sandwich 7: Junior Charlotte Spaulding had 4 goals and 4 assists for the Sailors (8-5) in the road win. Freshman Katie Tarsala (6 goals) and junior Anna Feeney (hat trick) also starred. Scituate got strong defensive games from Emily Quinn, Mia Peterson, Maeve Smith, Tess Railton, Natalie Naylor and Kate Stone in front of goalie Sarah Beal (12 saves).

More: MIAA releases updated tournament power rankings for high school girls lacrosse (May 13)

Cardinal Spellman 16, Fontbonne Academy 6: Elle Murphy (4 goals) and Erin O’Donnell (2 goals, 11 draw controls) led the Cardinals. Shaylee Flynn Linehan and Jenny Buckley each scored her first varsity goal.

Hanover 13, Whitman-Hanson 4: Maddy Allen had a goal and 2 assists for W-H (2-9) in the loss.

Canton 10, Quincy 6: Emily McCabe scored 4 goals, and Ella Yeaton had a pair for the Bulldogs.

Mansfield 9, Oliver Ames 8: The Tigers gave up a goal in the final minute. Catie Wilson had a hat trick in the loss, and Hailey Bourne, and Georgia Costello each scored twice. Goalie Jess Widdop made 7 saves.

Archbishop Williams 14, St. Joseph 4: The Bishops (11-4) won at home on Senior Day.

Cohasset 18, Barnstable 2: The visiting Skippers completed a 3-0 week.

BOYS LACROSSE

Sandwich 15, Cohasset 5: Robbie Norton and Liam Appleton each scored twice, and Jay Fox added a goal for the Skippers in the loss.

More: MIAA releases updated tournament power rankings for high school boys lacrosse (May 13)

South Shore Tech 9, Tri-County 2: Brady Cook had 5 goals and an assist to lead the Vikings (12-1, 12-0 Mayflower Athletic Conference).

Plymouth North 10, Mashpee 8: The Blue Eagles won a non-league game.

Nauset 20, Rockland 8: The Bulldogs dropped a South Shore League game.

GIRLS TENNIS

Plymouth North 5, Whitman-Hanson 0: Sophomore Alyson Tobias lost a three-setter in singles for the Panthers.

Boston Latin 3, Brockton Academy 2: The Boxers (1-5) got their wins in doubles from the teams of Christelle Jean-Baptiste/Priscilla Barros (No. 1) and Jessica Le/Lexi Johnson (No. 2).

Braintree 5, Dedham 0: Senior captain Sophia Tang won at second singles as the Wamps improved to 9-3.

Duxbury 4, Marshfield 1: Caroline Sutliffe (No. 1), Annabel Keating (No. 2) and Cara Cass (No. 3) swept the singles matches for Duxbury, which also won at second doubles with the team of Taylor Florek/Agnes Buell.

North Quincy 4, Hanover 1: The host Raiders beat the Hawks in Patriot League action.

Dartmouth 3, Bridgewater-Raynham 2: On Thursday, B-R got wins from Nicole Kimball at first singles and Holly Nichols at third singles. The teams will meet again on Monday in a match that will decide the league title.

BOYS TENNIS

Milton 3, Oliver Ames 2: OA got wins from senior captain Kylash Ganesh at third singles, and the No. 1 doubles team of Patrick Dolan and Ales Efremidas.

BOYS VOLLEYBALL

Quincy 3, Taunton 0: The Presidents won, 25-15, 25-11, 25-13, on the road. Quincy (8-7) had 21 kills on 20 assists with 5 blocks and 37 digs as a team.

BOYS TRACK & FIELD

East Bridgewater 116, Randolph 20: Chris Oman won the 100 meters and long jump to spark the Vikings (7-1). Other winners for EB were: Hayden Frew (shot put), Dustin Elliott (800m), Aiden Purcell (discus), Nic Uzzo (mile), Ben Levesque (2-mile), Gavin Keene (triple jump) and Michel Mondesir (high jump).

BOYS RUGBY

Weymouth 40, Marshfield 29: Tyler Ahern starred as the Wildcats (4-0) topped the Rams (1-4).

This article originally appeared on The Patriot Ledger: South Shore high school sports scores and highlights from May 13