Published in the July 21, 2017 edition
THE MELROSE Little League ten-year-old All-Stars won the 2017 district 12 championship. It was the first district championship won by a Melrose Little League team in 25 years. The season ended for Melrose in the sectional championship. Congratulations on a historic run! Pictured from left to right in the front row: Michael Thomas, Christopher Sullivan, Brandon Ward, Dylan Harrington, John Burke, & Noah Fay. Second row from left to right: Colin Walsh, Nicholas Hitchman, Quinn Fogarty, Daniel Ferris, Jaiden Aquino, Tom Butler, Quinn Mathews and Brendan Doyle.
SOMERVILLE — The Melrose Little League 10-year-old All-Stars entered the District 12 tournament with high hopes. After a late-inning loss to Medford in their opening game of the tournament, the young, talented baseball players for Melrose left no room for error in the double elimination tournament. Melrose would have to run the table and win their final three games to claim the District 12 championship.
Melrose got on track by defeating Somerville, 12-4, on Saturday, July 8 to set up another game against Medford. Because Medford was undefeated, Melrose would have to beat them twice to claim the title.
On Sunday, July 9, Melrose came back from a 5-1 deficit to defeat Medford 7-6. Melrose used timely hitting, great defense and superb pitching by the duo of Tom Butler and Colin Walsh to secure the victory. Dylan Harrington (two hits, two runs, RBI), Michael Thomas (two hits, two runs), Nicholas Hitchman (hit, run, RBI), & Tom Butler (two hits, two RBIs) led the way offensively in the 7-6 win over Medford on Sunday. The big hit for Melrose to break the game open was a clutch pinch hit triple by John Burke, driving in two runs.
In the District 12 championship game, played on Monday, July 10 at Conway Park in Somerville, Melrose would not be denied. Starting pitcher Michael Thomas set the tone early defensively for Melrose. Medford’s leadoff hitter led off the game with a base hit. It would be Medford’s only hit of the night. Thomas would retire the Medford order on five pitches, thanks to slick fielding by first baseman Tom Butler and shortstop Colin Walsh.
In the home half of the first inning, Melrose jumped out quickly on Medford, scoring three quick runs to set the tone for the rest of the game. Thomas (two hits, two runs, RBI), Nicholas Hitchman (two hits, walk, RBI, three runs), Colin Walsh (two hits, two runs, RBI), Dylan Harrington (hit, two runs, RBI) and Brandon Ward (two hits, RBI, run) sparked the Melrose offense early. In a seven-run 3rd inning, Melrose put the game away behind hits from John Burke (hit, run, RBI), Brendan Doyle (hit, run) and Tom Butler (hit, two RBIs, run). Quinn Fogarty (walk), Christopher Sullivan & Noah Fay added quality at bats for Melrose. Catcher Jaiden Aquino anchored the defensive effort for Melrose, along with a key double play turned by Colin Walsh and second baseman Brandon Ward.
Michael Thomas pitched four scoreless innings for Melrose, aided by a solid defensive effort by all of the Melrose fielders. It all added up to a 10-0 four inning victory for Melrose, clinching the 2017 District 12 ten-year-old championship.
Melrose went on to beat Allston-Brighton in the third Massachusetts sectional tournament, before bowing out to Needham and eventual sectional champ, Brookline, ending a great run and finishing as one of the top 12 ten-year-old teams in the state.
“It was a great experience for these fine young ballplayers that will hopefully pay off for them in tournament play next year, and in 2019 when they are playing in the Williamsport tournament,” said manager Cory Thomas.
The Melrose ten-year-old team will play the next three weeks in the Jimmy Fund tournament, playing around Middlesex and Essex counties while raising money and awareness for the Jimmy Fund and Dana Farber.
The Melrose 10-year-old team was coached by manager Cory Thomas, coach Chris Walsh, coach Giovanni Aquino, and coach Dan Harrington.
