Intercity season underway as Melrose Americans start 2-2
Published in the June 19, 2015 edition
MIKE ADDESA swings at a pitch for the Melrose Americans InterCity baseball team who opened their 2015 summer season earlier this month. (Donna Larsson File Photo)
By JENNIFER GENTILE
MELROSE — The Melrose Americans InterCity baseball team returns for its third season here in Melrose.
The Americans (formerly the Medford Mustangs) moved to the newly renovated Morelli Field in Melrose in 2013, to pick up where the Gately Rams left off in the 1980s and 1990s. The Melrose Americans are managed by Kevin Burgoyne and coached by Orazio Azzarello.
Area baseball fans can count on a talented lineup including Vinny Scifo, Chris Sharpe, Mac Singleton, Harrison Smoske, Ian Steckel, Greg Wilson, Steve Passatempo, Christian Rosati, John Jennings, Mike Addesa, Mike Andrews, Matt Brown, Dan Cacciola, Brian Carney, Colby Maiola, Dave Center, Ryan Colbert, Dillon Corliss, Anthony Dally and Gianni Esposito.
On the mound, look for hurlers Mike Andrews, Gianni Esposito and Anthony Dally to toss for Melrose, while area baseball fans might want to check out the defensive work of shortstop Vinny Scifo, a sophomore starter for the Div. 1 University of Massachusetts Minuteman baseball team, who is widely considered one of the best shortstops in the area. Behind the plate look for sharp hitting from Mike Addessa, Anthony Liciardello, Colby Maoila, Ian Steckel and Chris Sharpe, a group who are all batting nicely to start the season.
At press time the Americans are off to a 2-2 season after play began on June 8 when they shut out the Somerville Thunder 3-0 in their season opener at Morelli Field. The Americans got six innings of shut out pitching from Mike Andrews and big bats from Matt Brown and Brian Carney.
An additional win came in an exciting, eight inning, 3-2 victory against the Wakefield Merchants (1-4) at Walsh Field in Wakefield on Saturday, June 14. Melrose scored two runs in the top of the eight and held on for victory and gave up just two hits on the mound. Colby Maiola (3-4, RBI), Chris Sharpe (2-4, 2 RBI), and Ian Steckel (2-4), led the Americans at the plate while Gianni Esposito (1-0) earned a win in his two innings of relief work. Melrose scored first in the second inning when Colby Maiola singled to left to bring in Ian Steckel. Melrose loaded the bases in the fourth but Wakefield pitcher Darren Bisso ended the inning with no damage. The Merchants tied the game 1-1 in the bottom of the fifth inning on a sac fly by Mike Sorrentino. Melrose took the lead in the top of the eighth inning when Chris Sharpe hit a two-run single for the 3-1 edge, which they held on to in the eventual 3-2 win.
Sport fans can see a rematch on Monday when Melrose hosts the Wakefield Merchants at Morelli Field at 7:30 p.m. A full Americans schedule also appears in this section.
Game results
June 10 Andre Chiefs 4, Melrose Americans, 3 @Maplewood
June 13 Reading Bulldogs, 11 @ Melrose Americans, 3 @ Lexington HS
June 14 Melrose Americans, 3 @ Wakefield Merchants, 2 @ Walsh Field
2015 Boston InterCity Standings
W L T PCT PTS RS RA
Andre Chiefs 6 0 0 1.000 12 35 7
Watertown Reds 5 1 0 .833 10 40 12
Reading Bulldogs 5 2 0 .714 10 36 12
Lexington Blue Sox 3 1 0 .750 6 23 7
Melrose Americans 2 2 0 .500 4 12 17
Wakefield Merchants 1 4 0 .200 2 11 35
Arlington Trojans 1 7 0 .125 2 14 56
Somerville Thunder 0 6 0 .000 0 8 33
