Melrose postseason over after 2-1 loss to Marblehead

MELROSE'S DEREK SCIMEMI throws out a Marblehead runner during Melrose's heartbreaking 2-1 playoff loss to Marblehead at Morelli Field on Friday, June 5. (Donna Larsson photo) 

MELROSE’S DEREK SCIMEMI throws out a Marblehead runner during Melrose’s heartbreaking 2-1 playoff loss to Marblehead at Morelli Field on Friday, June 5. (Donna Larsson photo)

By JENNIFER GENTILE

MELROSE — It was a brief playoff experience for the Melrose High Red Raider baseball team who saw their season end on June 4 at Morrelli Field in Melrose in the opening round of the MIAA Div. 2 North Tournament when they fell to 11th seeded Marblehead, 2-1.

It was overall clean game in which every hit had consequence but unfortunately for Melrose they had to contend with Marblehead’s Garrett Keough, who earned the win on a three hitter and also delivered the game-winning run with a third inning single.

Melrose Coach Bill Hirschfeld spoke of the loss after the game. “I’m little disappointed but somebody has to win the game,” he said. “You’ve got to give Marblehead credit. They were solid. They did what they had to do. They played well. That’s the way it goes.”

Melrose senior captain Dylan Gaita went the distance on the mound for the Raiders giving up eight hits, three walks and six Ks. After the Magicians took the 2-1 lead Gaita held Marblehead to two hits the rest of the way. Meanwhile Keough tossed a no hitter for three innings while Melrose stranded runners in the fourth and fifth innings.

Keough’s two run single in the third that scored Tim Kalinowski and Spencer Carr proved decisive.  “We had too many guys getting to third base and we weren’t getting that extra hit for us to move it around from there,” said Hirschfeld. “I thought we played well defensively, well enough to win the game anyway.”

Melrose held Marblehead scoreless in the while Gaita fanned two and Melrose third basemen Jack Hickey threw out Drew Bisegna at first. The Raiders went down in order in the bottom of the first. Melrose defense looked impressive in the second with shortstop Derek Schemini making two plays to end the inning. Melrose became first on the board in the second when Jack Hickey drew a walk, Justin McCarthy’s fielder’s choices advanced Hickey to third and Alec Tauro’s RBI groundout scored Hickey, giving Melrose a 1-0 advantage they hung on to only for another inning.

The third inning proved pivotal as the Magicians managed a series of bunts and steals but not before Melrose senior Jake Karelas sent Marblehead’s James McCarthy back to the bench when he was thrown out at second trying to advance on a bunt fielded by Karelas.

Gaita fanned Josh Tassinari before Marblehead’s Spencer Carr hit a single that put two men on. When Garret Keough knocked in two runs Marblehead took a 2-1 advantage they held for the rest of the game. Melrose’s first hit of the game came courtesy of senior Jack Hickey in the fourth on a two out single to left. He advanced on a passed ball to second but was thrown out at third attempting to steal.

In the fifth Melrose’s Nick Cordeau laid down a beautiful bunt single and stole a base to give Melrose a man in scoring position. A fielder’s choice advanced him to third but a fly out by Cal MacDonald ended the inning. Melrose had another chance in the sixth when Derek Scimemi drew a leadoff walk and was advanced by a Ryan Censullo sacrifice bunt. At the next at bat Jake Karelas had what appeared to be the hit of the night with a monster shot in the gap between left and center. What appeared to be a sure-double to the fence was somehow caught by Marblehead’s James McCarthy, robbing Karelas of what would have been the game-tying run. As a result Censullo sped back to second but not in time to prevent the double play that ended Melrose’s last offensive drive of the game. “We thought that was gapped,” Hirschfeld said. “Then all of a sudden that kid just showed up.”

With such a narrow margin of 2-1 there was a real feeling that the game could have gone either way but ultimately the Melrose hits weren’t delivered at the right time. “We just stranded too many guys, bottom line,” Hirschfeld added. “We were getting them to third but we weren’t getting them in from there. It seemed like it was three innings in a row we did that with two out. And we can’t play any small ball at that time with two outs.”

This was Melrose’s first-ever playoff game at the new Morelli Field. Before the game they made the decision to camp out in the visitor’s dugout across first base. “That old dugout wasn’t serving its purpose over there,” Hirschfeld said. “We changed our luck and were 3-0 on this side going into today. … But now we might go back to the other side.”

Melrose loses five seniors to graduation including much of their pitching staff. Saying so long are senior captains Jack Hickey, Dylan Gaita and Jake Karelas, as well as pitcher Christian Pizzotti and shortstop Derek Scimemi.