Americans making their move in the Intercity League

Go 3-2 this past week to overtake Arlington in standings

Published in the July 24, 2015 edition

MELROSE — The Melrose Americans are moving up in the Intercity League standings as they currently sit in sixth place and are playing much better baseball.

In their past five games, Melrose has gone 3-2 to increase its record to 7-12-0 as it threatens to move past the slumping Wakefield Merchants into fifth place.

The Americans played the Somerville Thunder on Tuesday, July 21 at Trum Field in Somerville and prevailed by a 5-2 tally. Prior to that, Melrose outslugged the Thunder by an 11-6 score on Sunday, June 19 at Morelli Field.

In their three contests last week, Melrose lost to the Lexington Blue Sox by an 8-3 score on Wednesday, July 15 at Morelli Field, shut out the Andre Chiefs by a 3-0 tally on Thursday, July 16 at Morelli and dropped a 3-0 decision against the Reading Bulldogs on Friday, July 17 at Endicott College.

vs. Thunder, July 21

The Americans broke a 1-1 tie with two runs in the fifth and two in the seventh to top the Thunder for the second time in less than a week. Melrose and Somerville both scored a run in the first inning and the Thunder plated their second run in the last of the seventh inning.

Christian Rosati pitched the first three and two-thirds innings giving up one run (unearned on one hit while walking five and striking out four batters.

Brendan McDonough (1-0) pitched three and one-third innings of relief to earn the victory. McDonough gave up one run (unearned) on two hits while striking out a batter.

At the plate, the Americans had nine hits total. Chris Shapre, Steve Passatempo, Harrison Smoske and Vinny Scifo each had two hits while Mike Addesa had one hit. Addesa had a double and Passatempto had a triple for the extra base hits. Sharpe and Scifo each stole a base as well.

Sharpe scored three runs, while Austin Masel and Addesa crossed the plate once. Passatempo had two RBIs, while Addesa, John Jennings and Scifo each had one.

Sharpe, Addesa and Scifo also reached base on walks.

Jonathan Richard (0-5) pitched six and two-third innings giving up five runs (three earned) on eight hits while striking out three and walking three. He also committed a balk.

Nick Ahern went a third of an inning and gave up one hit.

The Thunder had three hits with Rob Caggiano (double), James McConville and Steve Ohanesian getting the hits. Jake Cintolo and Rob Marks had stolen bases as well.

Caggiano scored the two runs, while Cintolo and George Crowley each had an RBI. Justin Knight walked twice, while McConville, Mike Kinch and Marks each drew one free pass.

vs. Thunder, July 19

The Americans provided the thunder with their bats against Somerville as they banged out 13 hits and scored 11 runs in a 11-6 victory.

Melrose scored three runs in the first inning, six in the third, one in the fifth and one in the sixth. Somerville, meanwhile, plated three runs in the first, one in the fourth, one in the fifth and one in the sixth.

Leading the way offensively for the Americans was Scifo who had three hits, scored a run, and drove in three runs. One of Scifo’s hits was a double and he stole a base.

Masel, Passatempo and Smoske each had two hits, while Dan Cacciola, Addesa, Jennings and Mike LaRovere each had one. Masel had two doubles, while Addesa, Passatempo and Smoske each had one. Passatempo also hit a home run. Cacciola also stole a base.

Cacciola scored three runs, while Masel and Smoske crossed the plate once. Passatempo, Jennings and Ian Steckel each scored one run. Masel and Passatempo both had two RBIs, while Cacciola, Addesa, Jennings and LaRovere each had one run driven in.

Steckel walked twice, while while Masel, Addesa and Scifo each drew one free pass.

Mike Peters (1-1) went five innings to earn the victory giving up five runs on seven hits while striking out one and walking one. He also threw one wild pitch.

Kyle Autilio and Mike Andrews each pitched an inning of relief. Autilio gave up one run on three hits while striking out one and walking one. Andrews struck out two batters.

Shawn Smeglin (0-4) pitched three innings and took the loss for Somerville. Smeglin surrendered nine runs (three earned) on eight hits while walking three and striking out one.

Paul Pollano pitched three frames as well and gave up two runs (one earned) on five hits while striking out two and walking two.

Crowley, McConville and Marks each had two hits for the Thunder, while Cintolo, Devan Jones, Luke Ronchi and Caggiano each had one hit. Cintolo and Ronchi each hit home runs.

Cintolo, Crowley, Jones, Ronchi, McConville and Marks each scored a run. Ronchi had three RBIs, while Cintolo, Crowley and Marks each drove in one run.

Jones drew the two walks given up by Melrose pitching.

vs. Bulldogs, July 17

On Friday, July 17 at Endicott College, the Americans mustered only three hits off Reading pitching in a 3-0 setback. The Bulldogs scored two runs in the first and one in the fifth.

Alejandro Lopez Wheeler (0-1) went four and two-thirds innings for Melrose giving up three runs on four hits while striking out five and walking four. He also threw a wild pitch.

McDonough pitched one and one-third innings of relief giving up a hit and walking a batter.

Sean O’Neill (2-3) went the distance for Reading giving up three hits while striking out four and walking one.

Cacciola had two hits and Smoske had one. Passatempo stole a base and Andrews walked.

For the Bulldogs, Darren Hartwell led the way with two and two runs scored. He also had two stolen bases.

Corbin Hyde, Josh Drew and Steve Busby each had hits with Hyde and Drew getting doubles. Drew also scored a run.

Drew, Busby and Macyn Clifford each drove in a run. Getting the walks were Drew, EJ Martinez, Busby, Clifford and Cody Hall.

July 16 vs. Chiefs

The Americans blanked the Andre Chiefs by a 3-0 score on Thursday, July 16 at Morelli Field even though they were outhit, 6-4. But Melrose got the hits when it needed them as it scored a run in the first inning and two in the fourth.

Dillon Corliss (2-3) went the distance giving up no runs on hits while striking out five batters and walking two. He also hit two batters.

The Americans handed Chiefs hurler Matt DiCato (3-1) his first loss of the season. DiCato went six innings giving up three runs (two earned) one five hits while walking five and striking two.

Steckel had two hits for the Americans, while Masel, Smoske and Brian Carney each had one. Carney doubled for the only Melrose extra base hit.

Masel, Smoske and Steckel each scored a run, while Carney drove in two runs and Smoske had one RBI.

Masel, Chris Sharpe, Addesa, Anthony Liciardello and Gianni Esposito each drew a walk as well.

Getting the hits for the Chiefs were Juan Portes (double), Pete Copa, Paul Yanakopulos, Mike Andre, Ryan Sonberg and John Prentice. Johnny Welch and Copa each drew one base on balls.

vs. Blue Sox, July 15

Against the Blue Sox on Wednesday, July 15 at Morelli Field, Lexington’s Garrett Smith drove in four runs in his first three at bats and Ross Curley hit his first Intercity League home run to lead the Blue Sox to an 8-3 win over the Americans on Wednesday night.

The Americans plated three runs in the bottom of the first inning to tie the game at 3-3 at the time. But the Blue Sox scored two runs in the second, one in the third, one in the sixth and one in the seventh to pull away.

Aidan Freeburg (4-1) pitched four innings for the win for Lexington. He gave up three runs on hits while walking four, striking out three and hitting two batters.

Jeff Blount pitched two innings giving up four hits, while Chris Law hurled one frame.

Addesa and Passatempo each had two hits and an RBI for Melrose. Also getting hits were Masel, Sharpe, Steckel and Chris Lanzilli each had one.

Masel, Sharpe and Addesa each score a run. Masel, Addesa, Smoske and Lanzilli each drew a walk, too.

Andrews (1-3) took the loss pitching two and two-thirds innings. Andrews gave up six runs on eight hits while walking two and striking out one. He also hit two batters.

Esposito went three and one-third innings giving up one run on one hit while striking out one and walking one.

Autilio hurled one frame giving up one run on two hits while striking out one and walking one.

Curley had three hits, two runs scored and an RBI, while Smith and Dorian Rojas each had two hits for the Blue Sox. Kevin Davis, Andrew Della Volpe, John Puttress and Matt Bender each had a hit as well. Rojas had a double.

Josue Feliciano scored two runs, while Smith, Davis, Della Volpe and Bender each crossed the plate as well. Rojas had two RBIs, while Feliciano and Curley each drove in one run.

Bender walked twice, while Curley and Smith received one free pass.

The Americans played the Arlington Trojans on Wednesday, July 22 at Morelli Field (post deadline). On Friday, July 24, the Americans are scheduled to take on the Reading Bulldogs at 7:30 p.m. at Morelli Field.