WORCESTER, Mass. – Walpole was on the ropes.
After coming back from a 4-0 deficit in the top of the sixth and a 5-4 hole in the seventh, the No. 4 Timberwolves found themselves clinging to a 7-6 lead against No. 2 Reading with two outs in the bottom of the seventh.
With a runner on first, Reading's Liam Hansen sliced a liner to right field that looked to be trouble. Right-fielder Jackson Marshall got on his horse, racing toward the foul line and barely making the grab to seal the MIAA Division 2 title for Walpole.
The win marks the Timberwolves' first state championship in their third attempt. They fell to Plymouth North, 9-2, in 2024.
Sophomore Luca DiGiulio earned the win for Walpole (15-9). He tossed three innings of relief, giving up two runs (one earned) on four hits with two strikeouts.
Ryan Marino got the start for Reading (21-4), the senior went 5⅓ shutout innings, striking out eight, scattering four hits and working around six walks.
