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HUDSON - Another walk-off win meant one final walk off for Jason Smith.
The Framingham Legion Post 117 manager announced his retirement after nearly 30 years of coaching baseball in the city following the team's 2-1 loss to Hudson Post 100 Wednesday night to begin the District 4 playoffs.
After Framingham’s Michael Chagnon struck out 13 batters in six innings, Hudson scored twice in the bottom of the seventh for its fourth final-frame victory of the season. Post 100 (12-11) will go on the road to face top-seeded Leominster (20-2) Thursday at 5:30 p.m. to begin double-elimination play.
Smith concluded his career in the town he grew up in, on the same field where he played Babe Ruth baseball.
“To end my career coaching in the place where I grew up? Fun; serendipity,” said Smith, a 1992 Assabet Valley graduate who has two grown children. “But at the end of the day, it doesn’t come down to me. I had nothing to do with this – it's all about the kids.”
Smith was head coach for Post 117 for three seasons and followed legendary Paul “Bunkie” Smith after he passed away at age 70 in 2023. Jason Smith also coached Little League, Babe Ruth, Senior Babe Ruth and at Framingham High, a career spanning 29 years.
“Learn a lot with him,” Jason Smith said of “Bunkie.” Amazing, amazing person. One of the most respected coaches on the field with a lot of the other coaches. We just wanted to keep the legacy going, which we were able to do.
“I’ve been involved in a lot of things in Framingham. It’s time for me to be involved in my family a little bit more.”
Hudson was kept in check by Chagnon for most of the night on a day that looked like dusk was falling since dawn due to wildfire smoke. Chagnon allowed just two hits and fanned at least two batters in each of his six frames, including the side in the fifth inning.
He also dove to tag out a runner who was caught in a pickle after a pick-off throw.
“Lights out. I thought Michael was outstanding tonight,” Jason Smith said. “His fastball was excellent. Michael was dialed in tonight. He’s a bulldog – he's got a big heart. I’ve been fortunate to coach him since he was 13 years old. I’ve watched him mature and become a great young man. Lot of things ahead for him.”
Post 100 coach Ryan Bowen was just as complimentary.
“He had our number all night,” he said. “We haven’t struck out like that in a long time. He mixed it up really well. He dominated for a big part of the game.”
But in the seventh, Hudson finally got to Chagnon. Anthony Moura led off with a single to the shortstop hole and went to second on a walk to Max Cedeno that ended Chagnon’s night. After a wild pitch, Chase Farrar slapped a grounder to short that was misplayed to tie the game. Charlie Hammel’s grounder to second was thrown low to catcher Franco Saglimbeni as Cedeno slid home with the winning run.
Post 100’s first walk-off win happened in its home opener against Leominster. Hudson also turned the trick against Grafton after trailing 4-0 and Milford after falling behind 10-3 and 12-5.
“We have this ability to play freely, and when you do that, some of these big moments don’t seem as big when you’re in them when you play free the whole season,” Bowen said. “It’s hard to go the whole season and be dead-serious the whole time.”
Post 100 received a strong pitching performance of its own as Jacob Schwartz struck out six and allowed just one earned run when Ryan McAuliffe tripled and scored on Matty Johansson’s single the first.
“Our guy did a great job, too,” Bowen said. “Scattering hits. He didn’t strike out as many (as Chagnon), but at the same time, was effective when he got into jams. We don’t win that game with him on the mound.”
For Jason Smith, the immediate plan included slices, reminiscing, and more time at home.
“We’re going to grab some pizza right now and talk about the war wounds from the season,” he said after Post 117 finished the season at 10-13. “I appreciate Framingham giving me the opportunity to coach at every level. It’s been an awesome ride. But now it’s time to be with the family.”
Tim Dumas is a multimedia journalist for the Daily News. He can be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Instagram at tdumas1.
This article originally appeared on MetroWest Daily News: Framingham baseball coach Jason Smith retires; calls 29 years 'awesome ride'
Continue reading...
The Framingham Legion Post 117 manager announced his retirement after nearly 30 years of coaching baseball in the city following the team's 2-1 loss to Hudson Post 100 Wednesday night to begin the District 4 playoffs.
After Framingham’s Michael Chagnon struck out 13 batters in six innings, Hudson scored twice in the bottom of the seventh for its fourth final-frame victory of the season. Post 100 (12-11) will go on the road to face top-seeded Leominster (20-2) Thursday at 5:30 p.m. to begin double-elimination play.
Smith concluded his career in the town he grew up in, on the same field where he played Babe Ruth baseball.
“To end my career coaching in the place where I grew up? Fun; serendipity,” said Smith, a 1992 Assabet Valley graduate who has two grown children. “But at the end of the day, it doesn’t come down to me. I had nothing to do with this – it's all about the kids.”
Smith was head coach for Post 117 for three seasons and followed legendary Paul “Bunkie” Smith after he passed away at age 70 in 2023. Jason Smith also coached Little League, Babe Ruth, Senior Babe Ruth and at Framingham High, a career spanning 29 years.
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“Learn a lot with him,” Jason Smith said of “Bunkie.” Amazing, amazing person. One of the most respected coaches on the field with a lot of the other coaches. We just wanted to keep the legacy going, which we were able to do.
“I’ve been involved in a lot of things in Framingham. It’s time for me to be involved in my family a little bit more.”
Hudson was kept in check by Chagnon for most of the night on a day that looked like dusk was falling since dawn due to wildfire smoke. Chagnon allowed just two hits and fanned at least two batters in each of his six frames, including the side in the fifth inning.
He also dove to tag out a runner who was caught in a pickle after a pick-off throw.
“Lights out. I thought Michael was outstanding tonight,” Jason Smith said. “His fastball was excellent. Michael was dialed in tonight. He’s a bulldog – he's got a big heart. I’ve been fortunate to coach him since he was 13 years old. I’ve watched him mature and become a great young man. Lot of things ahead for him.”
Post 100 coach Ryan Bowen was just as complimentary.
“He had our number all night,” he said. “We haven’t struck out like that in a long time. He mixed it up really well. He dominated for a big part of the game.”
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But in the seventh, Hudson finally got to Chagnon. Anthony Moura led off with a single to the shortstop hole and went to second on a walk to Max Cedeno that ended Chagnon’s night. After a wild pitch, Chase Farrar slapped a grounder to short that was misplayed to tie the game. Charlie Hammel’s grounder to second was thrown low to catcher Franco Saglimbeni as Cedeno slid home with the winning run.
Post 100’s first walk-off win happened in its home opener against Leominster. Hudson also turned the trick against Grafton after trailing 4-0 and Milford after falling behind 10-3 and 12-5.
“We have this ability to play freely, and when you do that, some of these big moments don’t seem as big when you’re in them when you play free the whole season,” Bowen said. “It’s hard to go the whole season and be dead-serious the whole time.”
Post 100 received a strong pitching performance of its own as Jacob Schwartz struck out six and allowed just one earned run when Ryan McAuliffe tripled and scored on Matty Johansson’s single the first.
“Our guy did a great job, too,” Bowen said. “Scattering hits. He didn’t strike out as many (as Chagnon), but at the same time, was effective when he got into jams. We don’t win that game with him on the mound.”
For Jason Smith, the immediate plan included slices, reminiscing, and more time at home.
“We’re going to grab some pizza right now and talk about the war wounds from the season,” he said after Post 117 finished the season at 10-13. “I appreciate Framingham giving me the opportunity to coach at every level. It’s been an awesome ride. But now it’s time to be with the family.”
Tim Dumas is a multimedia journalist for the Daily News. He can be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Instagram at tdumas1.
This article originally appeared on MetroWest Daily News: Framingham baseball coach Jason Smith retires; calls 29 years 'awesome ride'
Continue reading...
