COVENTRY – Suffield is still undefeated at 10-0, only one of four unbeaten high school baseball teams in the state.

The Wildcats survived a close call Tuesday to stay that way against Coventry, last year’s Class S state champion. In the top of the seventh inning, they were down two runs and down to their last out. Coventry had just turned a double play (its second in two innings) to wipe the bases clean and the momentum suddenly shifted back to the Patriots.

“We were kind of down,” Suffield junior third baseman Connor Mandirola said. “But I was out there giving high fives and I knew we had something going and when Noah got hit, I knew we were going to start something up.”

Noah Schermerhorn was hit by a pitch. Dashel O’Dell hit a single to left. Suddenly, there was hope. Mandirola walked to load the bases.

“That double play, that kind of hurt,” Schermerhorn said. “It hurt in the dugout. But as soon as we got back up – I got hit, we started to get the momentum back.  The guys in the dugout were loud. That’s a big part of our team. A lot of momentum. We just kind of rode it.”

Junior Jake Gagnon, who had struck out twice and was 0-for-3, stepped up to the plate. He hit the ball so hard it rolled out near the parking lot in left field, for a triple. Three runners scored and after reliever William Winiarski held off Coventry in the bottom of the seventh, Suffield had come away with its 10th win, 5-4, to stay on top of the Class M rankings.

“We have a good team,” Suffield coach Bill Gaynor said. “I think some of the games have gotten away from other teams – we put it on them so quick. This was definitely a test.”

Coming into Tuesday, Suffield had scored 57 runs in its previous five games and had given up only five.

Suffield catcher Noah Schermerhorn tags out Coventry’s Owen Harrington at the plate in the second inning in a game against Suffield Tuesday at Coventry High. Suffield rallied to win 5-4 in the top of the seventh inning. (Photo by Lori Riley)

But the Wildcats ran into junior Kevin Johnson, who pitched the Patriots to a Class S state championship last spring, the best pitcher, they said that they had seen all season. Johnson kept Suffield off-balance for the first four innings, when he had nine of his 10 strikeouts. Meanwhile Coventry hit Suffield’s starter Logan Bonazelli and Wildcat errors led to Coventry leading 4-0 after four innings.

“I knew when we walked in here it would be a tough battle,” Bonazelli said. “Last year we faced them here with their stronger team and we beat them 1-0. It was a dog fight.

“I tried to pitch my best. Luckily I have a guy behind me who can help and finish strong for me.”

That would be Winiarski, who put the side down in order when he came into the game in the fifth and gave up a hit and a walk in three innings.

Suffield lost in the first round of the state tournament last year. The Wildcats have six seniors this season and many of them have played together for years.

Coventry junior pitcher Kevin Johnson struck out 10 in 5 2/3 innings Tuesday. (Photo by Lori Riley)

“We knew coming into this year we have a strong team,” said Schermerhorn, one of those seniors who is batting over .600 and will play at Western New England next season. “We’ve been playing together since we were little. We won the District 8 Little League title together.

“We’re trying to keep that going. This is our last go-round. Trying to make a statement as a team.”

There is pressure to stay unbeaten; the Wildcats did not want to lose Tuesday.

“There is a little bit of pressure because everyone knows we’re a good team,” Winiarski said. “But I know we have the weapons to continue winning and finish strong.”