Escobalez leads No. 2 Taunton to second straight Division I title win over No. 1 Franklin

WORCESTER— A year ago, then freshman Johnny Escobalez watched on from the stands at Lowell's LaLacheur Park as No. 2 Taunton defeated No.1 Franklin 2-1 for the program's second ever title and second since 2019. Afterwards, his dad told him he could be in that varsity dugout next year, something which Escobalez said would be amazing but something he didn't think would happen.

Fast forward a year later and the sophomore southpaw played the key role in securing the No. 2 Tigers (21-4) their second straight Division I title as they once again took down the Hockomock Kelley-Rex rival No. 1 Panthers (23-4) 7-2 Sunday evening at Polar Park.

"I’m just so glad that coach (Blair Bourque) believed in me," Escobalez said. "For a sophomore, it’s hard to believe but he believed in me."

Escobalez earned the win after going all seven innings giving up an earned run on five hits and no walks while striking out four.

"He’s a competitor," Bourque said. "I love seeing him out there. He’s gritty, he’s crafty, he’s tenacious (and) enough can’t be said about his competing level and being able to do this on this stage is just incredible. I’m so happy for him. He’s pitched the game of his life and I hope he can look back at this day and really enjoy it."

Taunton got to work early at the plate, scoring once in the first before batting around and plating five in the second then adding an extra insurance run in the fifth. Braden Sullivan led the way at the plate going three-for-five with a run and a pair of RBIs while Brayden Cali went two-for-five with two runs and an RBI, Dawson Bryce went two-for-five with a pair of RBIs, Dwayne Burgo went zero-for-three with two runs advancing on a walk and error, Andrew Cali went one-for-three with a run and Ryan MacDougall went one-for-two with an RBI and a pair of intentional walks.

"It was huge to provide (Escobalez) with some support early and put some pressure on them," Bourque said. "Franklin’s a phenomenal team. They’re well-coached, (Alfred) Mucciarone’s the best pitcher in the state and to be able to do what they did says a lot about their talent and abilities. I’m just really proud of those guys. One through nine (in the order), they were able to battle up there, compete, put really good at-bats together and it was special to see."

Mucciarone was credited with the loss for Franklin after going a little over three innings giving up three earned runs on six hits and two walks while striking out three. Austin Campbell then came in in relief and tossed two and a third innings giving up a run on three hits and four walks while striking out three and Dillon Cashin tossed the remaining one and two-thirds shutout innings giving up a hit while striking out two. At the plate, Luke Sidwell led the way going two-for-three with an RBI while Henry DiGiorgio went one-for-two with a run and Rex Cinelli went zero-for-three with a run after advancing to first via an error.

The Tigers got on the board first in the top of the first as Brayden Cali got on courtesy of a fielder's choice then was driven home two at-bats later on a MacDougall double that dropped between the left fielder and shortstop to put Taunton up 1-0.

Back-to-back throwing errors to first by Mucciarone saw AJ Lewis and Burgo both get on, with Lewis scoring first on a third throwing error by Mucciarone before Sullivan drove in Burgo and Andrew Cali on a single to left and after a Brayden Cali single, Bryce doubled to dive in Sullivan and the latter Cali to give the Tigers, who lost both of their league games to the Panthers this season, up 6-0.

"That inning was the difference in this game," Sullivan said. "You love to see it when kids one through nine are taking good at-bats, we saw (Mucciarone) well, we capitalized on their mistakes and at the end of the day we came out on top."

Franklin got one back an inning later as after Cinelli led off the inning advancing to first off a Sullivan throwing error, he came home on a second Sullivan throwing error to Eisig Chin to make it 6-1. The Panthers added another in the sixth as Sidwell led off the inning with a single then came home on a DiGiorgio single to left, but not before Taunton added another run in the fifth as a leadoff walk to Burgo became a run courtesy of a Brayden Cali double to left center.

In the end, and with Escobalez retiring seven of the final 10 batters he faced, the five run deficit proved too much for Franklin to overcome as the the Tigers took home their third Division I title in five seasons.

"Each year is different," Bourque said. "Coming in we knew the expectations were going to be high and we’ve got a lot of veteran guys that put a lot of pressure on themselves all season. They were able to shine the brightest when the stage was the brightest, so I was just really proud of all they’ve accomplished. They were here for a short time but man they’ve done a lot and I’m very proud to be part of this and it’s something that’s really important to the community and the school and it’s just a special day."

As for MacDougall, the lone Taunton player to be a part of all three state championships, the game was everything he could've asked for.

"I actually can’t believe it," MacDougall said. "For Johnny to come out and pitch the way he did while having the run support was unbelievable. We couldn’t ask for anything more."

MacDougall, Bryce and Sullivan are just some of the highlights of a talented senior class that played a key role in the program's success both on and off the field.

"They’re great role models, they’ve done a great job all season and I can’t be prouder of this group and this group of seniors, even the guys that don’t get to play as much," Bourque said. "They may not get the game time or recognition but they’re still really good leaders and they push the younger kids to take extra batting practice, take extra reps and you need that in a program. You’re not going to find much success if you’re not pushing each other and competing but day in and day out they just love to compete and play games and they have a blast doing it."

The day was extra special for Bourque as not only did he win his third Division I title as a coach, he was also able to be in Amherst to watch his daughter Bella win her first Division I softball championship as the Tigers downed Central Catholic to complete the three-peat for their eighth overall title.

"I didn’t think it was necessarily possible earlier and I haven’t really let it sink in yet, but it’s super cool," Bourque said. "I’m going to remember this day for a long time."

Looking forward, despite losing a large, talented senior class, there are plenty of returning bright spots including Escobalez, Andrew and Brayden Cali, Burgo and others waiting for their chance to shine next spring, something which MacDougall feels confident in their abilities to.

"(The program's) in good hands," MacDougall said. "Johnny’s here for a couple more years (and) we’ve got a couple of JV studs on the bench thankfully to experience this and they’ve just got to come back next year and step up and carry the legacy, (but) I couldn’t be happier (with them)."

Taunton Daily Gazette sports reporter Cameron Merritt can be reached at cmerritt@tauntongazette.com. You can follow him on Twitter at @CamMerritt_News. Support local journalism by purchasing a digital or print subscription to the Taunton Daily Gazette today.

This article originally appeared on The Taunton Daily Gazette: Taunton baseball goes back-to-back against Franklin in Division I