FALLS VILLAGE — The Housatonic Valley Regional High School baseball team dropped its season finale on Thursday, May 21, to visiting Northwestern Regional High School by a final score of 4-1.
The loss brings the Mountaineers overall record to 12-7 on the season while the Highlanders finished at 11-9.
The afternoon marked the last regular season home game for Housy seniors Chance O’Niel and Liam Bamberry, who were honored before the game. Northwestern senior Nate Tancreti was also honored for his final game at Housy.
It was the Highlanders who struck first in the top of the first inning as Tony Pucino led off the game with a single to left field. The hit was quickly erased by Mountaineer sophmore pitcher Jacob Shpur when he picked Pucino off first base on the very next batter.
A walk to Garrett Healey, followed by a fielder’s-choice grounder to shortstop by Bryce Ramsey and a single by Mitchell Gryniuk gave Northwestern runners on first and third with two out. Lukas Gryniuk then capitalized for the Highlanders with a double to left center field that scored Ramsey for the 1-0 lead.
Shpur escaped the inning without any further damage on the next batter, getting Vinny Tancreti to strike out swinging on a nasty breaking ball with runners on second and third.
The Mountaineers then answered right back in the bottom of the inning as O’Niel led off with a line-drive single into left field.
Following a stolen base and a balk by the Highlander pitcher, as well as a walk to Bamberry, Housy found themselves with runners on first and third with one out. Justin Dean then hit a liner right at the third baseman, who tried to double up Bamberry at first, allowing O’Niel to score from third on the throw, tying the score at 1-1.
The score remained tied until the top of the fifth inning. Pucino led off the inning with a walk and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Healey. The Mountaineers intentionally walked Ramsey with first base open, giving Northwestern runners on first and second with one out. Gryniuk followed that up with a single to center field, scoring Pucino for the 2-1 lead.
The Highlanders added two more runs in the top of the seventh when Pucino ripped a ground-rule double to left field with one out. An infield hit by Healey was followed by a double just past the glove of a diving Scott Dignacco at second base, scoring the two runners and giving the visitors the 4-1 lead.
The Mountaineers tried to rally in their last at bat but were unsuccessful.
The 12-7 record qualified Housy for the Class S CIAC tournament. The Mountaineers will play a first-round game on Monday, June 1.
Justine and Victor Valla in their studio with a painting of Victor’s,”Jonah and the Whale.” Robin Roraback 
A ceramic vase by Kathleen Heidemann.Provided 
Joy Brown’s delightful ceramic sculptures.Provided 
