WORCESTER, Mass. — A year ago, Johnny Escobalez sat in the stands with his father at LeLacheur Park in Lowell and watched as Taunton claimed a thrilling win over Hockomock rival Franklin.
Just three months ago, Escobalez started the season and spent the first couple of weeks on the Tigers’ junior varsity team.
And now, the sophomore is the winning pitcher of the Division 1 state championship game.
Escobalez tossed a complete game under the bright lights at Polar Park, allowing two runs (one earned) on four hits and four strikeouts, facing 28 batters without issuing a walk. His seventh win of the season handed Taunton a 7-2 verdict over Franklin for the second straight year in the championship game.
“My dad believed in me,” Escobalez said. “He told me [last year] that could be me, that I could be in the dugout next year, and I thought that would be sick. I never would have thought I’d be pitching in this game.
“I’m so glad that coach believed in me. I started the beginning of the season on JV so I wouldn’t have thought this would happen. I’m just glad to get this opportunity.”
Taunton’s pitching staff faced numerous hurdles throughout the season. Senior Shawn Cali was coming off a tremendous junior campaign but injuries kept him off the mound, and junior Jack Cali, who led the team in innings pitched this year, was limited to just four appearances in May. Ryan MacDougall, who led the Tigers in innings last year, returned to his natural position at catcher this year and only appeared on the mound three times.
That meant opportunity and Taunton head coach Blair Bourque dipped into his sub-varsity pool and moved Escobalez up. The rest is history.
“I remember in the weight room talking to him a couple of times and just being like you know we’re going to need you at some point this season, just make sure you’re ready, and opportunity presented itself, Shawn going down, and he capitalized,” Bourque said. “He’s been phenomenal all season. He’s been able to get ahead, he’s crafty, and he’s a competitor above all. He just loves to compete. I know in our intrasquads I don’t let him hit all the time and he’s bummed because he just wants to play. That’s what you need.
“Enough can’t be said about the performance, being a Eso, and being on this stage. It’s incredible. I’m so happy for him. He’s a hard worker. The future is very bright, but this is a very special day for him and I’m glad the guys were able to get ahead early and he was able to pitch with a lead.”
Escobalez went 7-0 this season in eight starts, holding opponents to a measly 0.143 batting average. He tossed a no-hitter back on May 10th against North Attleboro — in just his fourth career appearance — but that will likely move down the list of accomplishments after beating top-ranked Franklin in the final.
“He’s been incredible this year, no words can explain what he’s done for us,” said senior Braden Sullivan (three hits, two RBI), who moved from third base to shortstop this season. “We lost Shawn [Cali] as a pitcher, we lost Jack [Cali] for a little so he got the call up and definitely helped us. He’s been phenomenal, his stuff has been good. We knew coming in, his stuff would be tough to hit and he did his job today.”
Escobalez pitched from ahead the entire game; a two-out RBI from MacDougall scored Brayden Cali (leadoff single) in the top of the first, presenting the sophomore lefty with a 1-0 lead before he threw a pitch.
The lead grew quickly as the Tigers plated five more runs in the second inning so Escobalez had a 6-0 lead the second time he toed the rubber on the mound.
Franklin’s offense has worn pitchers down all season but the Panthers were never able to overwhelm the sophomore. He worked around a leadoff single from Ryan Gerety in the first and induced a couple of grounders in the second to strand Luke Sidwell at second after his one-out single.
“He’s been awesome,” said Taunton senior Dawson Bryce (two doubles, two RBI), who was also a pitching option for the Tigers at the start of the season but only pitched once more after tossing a scoreless inning at Franklin on May 12th. “As soon as he came up to varsity, he’s been lights out. He’s been a great addition to the team and he’s going to be really dominant again next year.”
A couple of errors allowed Franklin’s first run to score; a throwing error allowed Rex Cinelli to reach, and then another infield error allowed him to score when Eisig Chin made it to first. Escobalez hit the next batter to put two on but a fly ball to Andrew Cali in right quickly ended that threat.
“Nobody knew what his name was before today,” MacDougall said. “He’s a sophomore. Against BC High, he pitched his worst game of the year. He was physically nervous on the mound. Today, you couldn’t keep him sitting down. He was amped all game, pitched amazing, the game of his life, and I don’t think you could throw a better game as a sophomore.”
He retired the side in order in the fourth on eight pitches and put the Panthers down in order again in the fifth on nine pitches. Franklin tagged him for a run in the sixth after Henry DiGiorgio had a one-out single and Sidwell delivered with a two-out RBI but that would be all the damage for the night.
There was little drama in the final inning as Escobalez got his fourth strikeout of the night for the first out, a fly ball to Cali in right for the second, and a pop-up to left fielder Dwayne Burgo to end it.
“There’s no feeling like this,” Escobalez said with a big smile. “This is awesome.”
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