MATTAPOISETT — The Old Rochester Regional High School baseball team had a tough task on Tuesday, April 9 as they faced off with defending Div. 4 state champion Seekonk High School.

The Bulldogs kept the game close for the majority of the afternoon but eventually fell to the Warriors, 7-1.

Colin Mello took the mound for the Bulldogs and kept the game close, allowing just three unearned runs in the first six innings while striking out eight batters.

“Colin pitched great,” said Old Rochester head coach Steve Carvalho. “I think he proved himself as a varsity pitcher today against a very good team.”

South Coast Conference 2023 Most Valuable Player Tyler Kropis pitched for Seekonk, presenting the Bulldogs with a challenging fastball that tops over 80 miles per hour.

Carvalho looked at the game as an opportunity for his team to gain valuable experience.

“We’re a young team and very inexperienced at the varsity level,” he said. “The offense is going to be a work in progress. We had some good at-bats today. I’m proud of this team and what they did today against Kropis. “

A few of those good at-bats belonged to Bulldog catcher Noah Borgiorno, who reached base with a single in the first inning and a double in the third inning.

“We faced a good arm —the SCC MVP — we just have to carry the momentum we had from the first four innings into tomorrow’s game,” said Borgiorno, who plays shortstop and pitches along with catching. “I’m just trying to keep the team motivated.”

“I am asking a lot out of that kid. He is our best player and he loves baseball,” said Carvalho of Borgiorno. “He’s got a lot of tools. He can run. He can hit. He can play different positions…he’s a real bulldog.”

The Bulldogs jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning after Jason Tobin drew a walk with the bases loaded.

Mello kept Seekonk off the scoreboard through three innings, striking out all three batters he faced in the third inning.

Seekonk scored one run in the fourth and two in the fifth before a big seventh inning gave them a 7-1 lead.

“We have to keep working on making plays defensively,” said Carvalho.

The loss drops the Bulldogs record to 1-2 on the season. They hit the field again on Wednesday, April 10 at 4 p.m. at Dartmouth High School.