Warriors edged by Belmont in 3-2 thriller
ANDREW PATTI went 1-for-3 with a double and a run scored in Wakefield’s 3-2 setback against Belmont on Monday afternoon. The Warriors host Watertown today at Walsh Field. (Donna Larsson File Photo)
BELMONT — The Wakefield Memorial High baseball team mounted a rally in the seventh inning. However so did Belmont.
The Warriors erased a 2-0 deficit in the top of the seventh inning with a pair of runs but the Marauders tallied the game-winner in the last half of the inning to hand Wakefield a 3-2 defeat on Monday afternoon at Belmont High School.
The Warriors fell to 7-3 overall on the season and 6-3 in the Middlesex League Freedom division.
The M.L. crossover game was a good one from start to finish as both teams battled in a pitchers’ duel.
Belmont scored two runs in the first six innings against junior right-hander Andrew Auld to take a 2-0 advantage headed into the final frame.
The Warriors had several chances to score against Belmont but they didn’t break through until the top of the seventh.
Anthony Cecere, who went 1-for-2 with a double, was hit by pitch. Andrew Patti, who went 1-for-3, doubled to put runners on second and third. Paul McGunigle, who went 1-for-3, reached safely on a single to load the bases. Neil Fitzgerald, who went 1-for-2 with a walk, singled between shortstop and third base as Cecere crossed the plate. After a pop up, Corey Imbriano, who walked three times, drew a bases loaded walk to force in Patti to tie the game at 2-2.
With the bases still loaded and one out, Wakefield was unable to drive in the go ahead run as the game remained deadlocked headed into the last of the seventh inning.
The Warriors got the first out of the seventh but a throwing error allowed a Marauder runner to reach base. After Wakefield got the second out, a single resulted in runners at the corners. Auld intentionally walked Belmont’s number three hitter to load the bases and set up a force. The Marauders’ cleanup hitter was also 0-for-4 as he came to the plate. An error resulted in the winning run crossing the plate as Belmont walked off with the win.
Auld pitched six and two-thirds innings and took the loss. The righty gave up three runs (one earned) on six hits. He struck out six batters, walked one and hit two batters.
Defensively, Wakefield made four errors behind Auld and three of those miscues led to two unearned runs.
“We made too many errors but overall (for the season) we’ve been playing well,” said Coach Keith Forbes. “We faced a kid (Cole Bartels) who is a Div. 1 pitcher. Div. 1 colleges are looking at him. We had our opportunities and got runners into scoring position. We battled. Bartels and (Jackson) Gillis, they’re Div. 1 guys.
“We’re 7-3. The kids have showed a lot of character,” added Forbes. We’ll put this behind us and go on from here. We have a big week ahead with Watertown, Stoneham and Reading. We want to get to 10 wins and get into the state tournament.”
First up for the Warriors will be Watertown this afternoon at 4 p.m. at Walsh Field. Wakefield then hosts Stoneham on Friday afternoon at 3:45 p.m. at Walsh Field and then Reading on Saturday at 10 a.m. at Morton Field in Reading.
