MANSFIELD - Hockomock League champions! How does that sound, Mansfield High Hornets?

That's what coach Tim Graham and his Hornets celebrated Tuesday after nipping Oliver Ames 3-2 to clinch the Hockomock League baseball championship outright - the first for Mansfield, believed to be in more than 40 years.

A five-hit pitching performance by senior right-hander Anthony Chiarolanza, dazzling defense (four putouts, four assists) in the field by senior shortstop Ben Blaisdell and a clutch RBI-single by the No. 7 batter in the order, Ryan Murphy, delivered victory No. 16 overall of the season for Mansfield.

The Hornets (16-3) concluded the regular season at 13-3, gaining at least a one-game advantage over Oliver Ames (13-5, 11-4), which needed to beat Mansfield and Sharon (Friday) to gain a share of the crown.

"I think that they remembered last year a bit," offered OA mentor Leo Duggan of the 14-0 lashing his Tigers placed upon Mansfield in the regular season Hockomock League finale in 2006, which gave North Attleboro and Foxboro a share of the title with the Hornets. The Tigers plated a pair of runs in the third inning on three hits, but then Chiarolanza and the Hornets got out of a bases-loaded jam in the fourth inning when Blaisdell initiated a frame-ending double play. Chiarolanza then retired nine of the final 10 batters he faced, allowing only a two-out walk in the fifth inning.

"He's a gamer, he'll always be," said Graham in praise of Chiarolanza, who allowed only leadoff OA batters to reach base in the third and fourth innings. "He struggled a little bit, but with a game on the line, I want him in there."

And the Hornets want Blaisdell in the field too.

For complete story see Wednesday's Sports section.