Pioneer Valley Regional is going to need to invest in a bigger trophy case. 

It’s been a ‘once in a generation’ year for the athletic program, one that saw the Panther boys soccer team win a Western Mass. title and its boys basketball team win a Western Mass. and Div. 5 state title en route to an unbeaten campaign.

It seemed impossible to top that basketball season, but the Pioneer baseball team has nearly pulled off the same feat. Despite playing a challenging schedule, including non-league contests against higher division tournament teams, nobody was able to knock off the Panthers during the regular season.

Pioneer went on to capture a Western Mass. Class D title and earn the No. 1 seed in the Div. 5 state tournament. The large senior group has been knocking on the door of a state title the last few years, reaching the semifinals three years in a row but each time, the Panthers were unable to get over the hump and make it to the state title game.

Not this year.

The Panthers cruised past Hopedale, 12-2, in the semifinals on Wednesday at Westfield State to reach the championship game with an unblemished 25-0 record, where they will take on defending champion Boston English at noon on Saturday at Polar Park in Worcester. Pioneer is going for the first state title in program history. 

“The coolest part has been seeing the kids at practice [Thursday], going over the schedule and what Saturday will look like at Polar Park,” Pioneer coach Kevin Luippold said. “They all had calm smiles in the huddle and were super excited. They’re excited about what they’ve accomplished and what they’re able to play for at Polar Park.” 

The opportunity to play at Polar Park has been a driving force for the Panthers this season. 

The 9,508 seat park opened in 2021 as the home of the Worcester Red Sox, with the size and scale making the championship games feel bigger.

“It’s like when you’re a kid and you go to Fenway or Gillette or the Garden and everything feels massive and far away,” Luippold said. “It’ll be that kind of feeling being on the field for the first time. They’ll get to tell their friends, family, kids, grandkids that they played there. It’s such a great experience for the kids.” 

In a sport with as many variables as baseball, going undefeated is nearly impossible. 

The last baseball team to finish the season with an unbeaten record and win states was Austin Prep in 2022, as it won the Div. 3 title with a 25-0 record. Add in what the Panthers have accomplished throughout the athletic year, and Pioneer has a chance to do something on Saturday that you only see in movies. 

“I think it’s set in a good amount for a large part of the team,” Luippold said. “We had a great soccer team, an amazing basketball season and then to bring that competitive nature, hard working attitude and Panther culture into the baseball season, not take one step back at any point and come out of this 25-0 and looking to finish as unbeaten state champions is honestly surreal. This isn’t something you wake up every year and see happen.” 

The defending state champs won’t be easy to take down. 

Playing a grueling regular season schedule that featured 10 Div. 1 schools, one Div. 2 school, six Div. 3 schools, two Div. 4 schools and three Div. 5 schools, the Eagles still managed to go 17-5 to enter the Div. 5 tournament as the No. 2 seed. 

English opened things up with a 16-2 win over Mount Greylock, followed with an 8-0 shutout over Westfield Tech, beat Charlestown 9-3 in the quarterfinals and in the semifinals, took down a talented Drury team, 9-7. 

“They’re good,” Luippold said. “It’ll be a good matchup. They don’t have their ace because he had to come in and throw 80 pitches against Drury. He’s good and we don't have to see him.

“We’re going to have to hit,” Luippold added. “I told the guys going into the Final Four game that it doesn’t matter who’s on the mound, whether it’s someone throwing 90 or someone throwing 55, it doesn’t matter. Whoever hits and produces more runs wins the game. It’s about how many we can get on base whether it be walks or hits and how we produce runs. When you look up at the scoreboard at the end of the game, most of the time the team with the most hits wins. There’s also a big error button up there that you don’t want to see go up. It’s going to be a matter of executing with runners in scoring position and putting pressure on them.”

What’s been the difference between this Pioneer team and the teams of the past that had their seasons halted in the semifinals? Part of it is experience. 

The Panthers roster is full of seniors like Alex McClelland, Braeden Tsipenyuk, Ethan Quinn, Ethan Mauthe, Ben Werner and Jackson Campbell that have established the culture at Pioneer. With postseason experience to lean on, the Panthers are ready for whatever situation might arise. 

Throw in sophomores starters like Jackson Glazier, Evan Tsipenyuk and Brody Welcome, and Pioneer has both the talent and experience needed for this run to the title game. 

Luippold said the biggest difference he’s seen is the maturity to speak up and bring ideas to the table, something that you really only see with a veteran group.

“The biggest jump this year is voicing their own opinion because we will take what they say into consideration as a coaching staff,” Luippold said. “They’re comfortable helping each other and trusting each other even if they don’t come to us first as coaches. They can handle game or practice situations on their own without having to get our attention. It’s not something we preach but they make the smart decision and plays on the field. That comes with good skill but also mental IQ to trust themselves and help each other out. It’s cool to see each guy on the team do that.”

No matter which opponent they were going to see, Luippold said his team will be ready to go and compete. 

“The guys know this is the last game,” Luippold said. “Win, lose or draw they have to leave it all out there. It doesn’t matter who we’re playing, whether it’s the Red Sox or English High we’ll leave it out there. It’s cool the team has bought into that. There’s no national championship after this, there’s no playing the D4 winner, this is it then they’re off to college. It’s unfortunate we didn’t make it here sooner but it’s coming at a time when they’ve matured and are able to soak in the experience as seniors.” 

Pioneer is looking to become the first Western Mass. baseball team to win a state title since Mount Greylock in 2022, and first Recorder area team to win since Athol in 2003. Luippold is hoping his team can appreciate what they’ve accomplished this year no matter the result on Saturday. 

“These guys should be proud of themselves no matter what happens Saturday,” Luippold said. “They will be able to look back on this in a week, a month, a year and see what they’ve accomplished this season and during their high school careers. It’s a nice cap to their careers.”