Beating the odds: Durfee baseball gathering momentum this spring
FALL RIVER — Since taking over at his alma mater at Durfee in 2020, Mike Martin is finally living his dream as a manager.
Going back to his hay days as a high school baseball player in 1986-1990 and even as head coach, the Hilltopper Hall of Famer haven't had a fast start to the season like he's seen in 2024.
Durfee is off to its best start in nearly two decades with an 8-1 mark and is currently ranked 15th in the Division 1 power rankings. Monday's 6-5 win over Bishop Stang gave the Hilltoppers their sixth straight victory. They are also unbeaten in league play at 3-0. Their only blemish on the year is a loss to neighboring Diman.
"I'm not a historian here, but when I played here we did not get off to an 8-1 start," Martin said. "Not even as a coach. But that's all it is. I told them in this morning meeting, we accomplish nothing. A good start, better than 1-8."
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Last week, Durfee played four games in five days and came away with impressive wins over New Bedford, Dartmouth, Bridgewater-Raynham and the defending Division 1 state champion Taunton. Seven of the Hilltoppers' eight wins this year have come by the one-run variety.
"[That] is a sign of a good team," Martin said. "Winning close games, we have two 1-0 games, all types of one run games. This is a really good group of kids this year. They believe in themselves, they want to be coached, which is very important. We're getting there. You see my face, every day to be around them is a joy. I'm like a proud parent watching these kids."
An all-star at Durfee on the diamond, Martin put together a stellar career at Boston College, where he made the Eagles as a walk-on. He was named to the Big East all-rookie team, was a two-time all-Big East selection and earned all-American status in 1993 when he finished third in NCAA Division I in batting at .462. Martin, who is a BC Hall of Famer, was drafted by the Detroit Tigers and played two years of minor league ball before getting his release.
Martin said a lot of his team's success in 2024 comes down to pitching and defense.
"We're 8-1 because we can pitch it and we can catch it," he said. "We've played good defense and we're throwing strikes. This game is about balls and strikes. I see baseball at a lot of the levels, the 9U levels all the way to the college level and Cranberry League team."
Martin said players like KJ Strong (two saves) and Dylan Silviera have stepped up big in closing roles on the hill.
"We're finding kids who are going in at the end and stepping up," Martin said. "The kids are ready for their opportunity and their roles. It's a good thing. I told them if we're going to be there at the end, it is going to take all of you. We're going to have to work through it. I think we're checking those boxes right now.
Even those from the outside have noticed a difference this year with Durfee.
"That's a solid team right there," said Bishop Stang coach and former Red Sox pitcher Brian Rose. "They're doing it on the pitching, defense and timely hitting. I think when you put those three together, you have a winning ball club. Coach Martin is getting his boys to play everyday. They're in a good rhythm, playing tough teams and they're winning those one-run games. It shows you the good coaching that they have. He's doing a good job over there."
There's a buzz around the newly, Joseph “Skip” Lewis state-of-the art turf field and inside the community in Fall River. The Hilltopper baseball team is for real. Next up Brockton.
"We have a beautiful facility right so we have to perform so people can come out, be here and watch it," Martin smiled. "That's really the goal. If the kids allow me to coach them, we take this one game at a time then we'll see what happens. Everybody has a role, everybody is doing something for the team."
Herald News and Taunton Daily Gazette sports editor Steven Sanchez can be reached at ssanchez@heraldnews.com. You can follow him on Twitter @Chezsports
This article originally appeared on The Herald News: Seven of eight wins have come in one run ball games
