Coventry baseball wins Class S quarterfinals behind sophomore Kevin Johnson’s 10 hits and stellar defense

COVENTRY – Kevin Johnson was a freshman last year. He pitched in some games for the Coventry High baseball team, the Class S runner-up, but he was young and sometimes struggled when he made a mistake.

“He’s always had good stuff, but it’s a different level and it’s tough when you’re in ninth grade pitching against 17- and 18-year-olds,” Coventry coach Ryan Giberson said. “He had some ups and downs, which is to be expected last year.”

This season, Johnson is older and more experienced and pitched in his biggest game Saturday, the Class S quarterfinals against Canton. He took a no-hitter into the fifth inning, struck out 10 and gave up three hits and one run in an 8-1 win over the No. 9.

Kevin Johnson 10th K to end the game, Coventry wins 8-1 #ctbase pic.twitter.com/AzER5co48q

— Lori Riley (@lrileysports) June 1, 2024

Top-seeded Coventry (22-3) will play the winner of the quarterfinal game North Branford-Somers in the semifinals on Tuesday at a time and place to be determined. Coventry lost in the championship game last year, 6-2, to Haddam-Killingworth.

“I felt really good to start the game,” Johnson said. “I felt like I was throwing hard. Especially with the defense at the back. In the first half, we definitely made some good plays.

“Last year I didn’t get a chance to pitch in the postseason. This year I feel like I’ve proven myself. I feel stronger mentally. I’m definitely calmer on the mound. I was a little wild (last year), excited.”

Mather Spear had a double and scored two runs, Gavin Covell had an RBI double in the second inning, and Nathan Spear and Evan Menzel drove in runs with sacrifice flies.

Mather Spear scores on a sack by Nathan Spear, Coventry leads Canton 6-0 in top 4 #ctbase pic.twitter.com/suGV6RFRr4

— Lori Riley (@lrileysports) June 1, 2024

Johnson was tested early. With one out, he walked the second batter, then Coventry turned a double play to lead off the first inning. He walked the first two batters of the second, then struck out the next batter, got a fielder’s choice groundout to put the batter out of the third and another strikeout to end the inning.

“The defense behind me was really good,” Johnson said. “Evan Menzel has done a lot of good plays. I turned the double play in the first. Woj (Jacob Wojtkowiak played) in right field. We had a little rough inning in the second and sixth, a little rough spot. I kind of went through it. Last year I would have thought too much about it.”

Coventry got a run in each of the first and second innings (Spear doubled and scored on a wild pitch and a groundout at third in the second). But the Patriots broke the game open at third when Menzel singled and scored on Covell’s double to start it. They batted and scored three more runs to go up 6-0.

Johnson gave up his first hit, a double to James Canny in the fifth inning. In the sixth inning, Jackson Senecal led off with a double and one out and Sam Lincoln singled in Canton’s only run. Johnson then walked, but struck out the next batter, and Menzel, who will play at the University of Maine next year, made a diving catch on a drive by Joseph Nadeau to end the inning.

“Defense … that lets you breathe,” Giberson said. “I had a great game in right field. First inning, runner on first, I turned a double play. It was a tough double game. Evan plays as well as anyone you see at short.”

Giberson has four pitchers, but said Johnson throws the hardest.

“Last year was up and down, but it was a good experience for him,” Giberson said. “He was a freshman. It has very good stuff. This year has been really consistent. He has grown a lot emotionally, physically he is better.

“I mean, he’s the guy for this type of game, in terms of things. I thought he did a good job of settling in early.”