Middleboro, Apponequet to square off for state baseball title

Two state championship titles are on the line this weekend for area high school teams. 

In a matchup of neighbors, the Middleboro High School and Apponequet Regional High School baseball teams will vie for the state title this weekend.

Apponequet Regional High School has another matchup this weekend. The school's softball team will challenge Swansea's Joseph Case High School for the state Division 3 softball title at Worcester State University on Friday, June 12 at 4 p.m.

The Middleboro and Apponequet baseball squads will face off for the MIAA Division 3 State Championship title at Polar Park in Worcester on Saturday, June 13 at 3 p.m. 

Middleboro's baseball team ended the regular season with an 18-4 record. Apponequet ended the season with 16 wins and four losses.

Apponequet softball finished the season with a 15-6 record. 

Middleboro and Apponequet's baseball teams aren't strangers. 

Middleboro baseball coach Jeff Sylvia said that members of the Middleboro baseball team and Apponequet team play summer baseball together.

"They've known each other," Sylvia said. "They know more than I think the coaches know about each other as far as the teams go."

Sylvia said that beyond Saturday's ballgame being the championship, the neighborly competition is "special" for Middleboro's team.

"There's such a great bond between both teams and both schools it's a perfect situation," Sylvia said.

Both teams have had strong seasons. Middleboro is the No. 3 seed team and Apponequet is the No. 5 seed team in the baseball tournament.  

"I thought we played a really difficult schedule that challenged them and they stepped up all year long," Sylvia said. "It was absolutely amazing."

Sylvia praised the Apponequet team, which is led by head coach Jim Cabucio.

"I know his [Cabucio's] team and how good they are," Sylvia said. "They're a mirror of what I hope we are."