Go 2-1 in their past three games
Published in the July 29, 2016 edition
MIKE ADDESSA goes up to make a great catch during the Melrose Americans 6-4 eight inning win over the Wakefield Merchants on July 20. The Americans went 2-1 this past week with the lone loss coming against Intercity League Andre Chiefs, 5-4. (Donna Larsson Photo)
By DAN BYRNE
MELROSE — The Melrose Americans had a good week as they posted wins in two out of their three Intercity League contests and came close to the sweep as the contest they lost was by one run.
The Americans were edged by the Andre Chiefs by a 5-4 score on Tuesday, July 26 at Morelli Field. The loss came after Melrose blanked the Arlington Trojans, 3-0, on Sunday, July 24 at Summer Street Field and edged the Wakefield Merchants, 6-4, on Wednesday, July 20 at Walsh Field.
The Americans are 9-14-1 on the season.
vs. Andre Chiefs, July 26
The Americans scored three runs in the fifth and one run in the sixth after being down 5-0, but they were unable to compete the comeback falling a run short. The Chiefs scored a run in the first and added four more in the fifth.
Christian Rosati led the way with three hits, while Austin Masel, Mike Addesa, John Jennings, Chris Lanzilli, and Nick Herzog had one. Masel’s hit was a double.
Masel, Tom Petry, Rosati, and Nick Herzog scored the four runs, while Jennings had the lone RBI.
Masel, Petry, Rosati, and Dan Cacciola drew the four walks surrendered by Andre pitching and Lanzilli had the lone stolen base.
Dillon Corliss (1-3) went the distance for the Americans giving up five runs (four earned) on seven hits while striking out four and walking two. He also threw a wild pitch.
Sam Kasten (2-1) earned the win for Andre going five and a third innings giving up four runs (two earned) on six hits while striking out three and walking three.
Tim Dunphy went a third of an inning giving up a hit, while Anthony Sullivan notched his second save going an inning and a third giving up one hit while striking out three batters.
Tony Serino and Juan Portes each had two hits, while Pete Copa, Tony Deshler, and Nate Witkowksi all had one hit. Portes and Copa clubbed a pair of doubles.
Deshler crossed the plate twice, while Serino, Portes, and Witkowski each scored one run. Portes drove in three runs, while Serino and Copa had the other two RBIs.
Copa and Deshler both drew walks and Mike DiCato and Copa each stole a base.
vs. Arlington Trojans, July 24
The Americans plated all three of their runs in the third inning as the defeated the Trojans by a 3-0 tally at Summer Street Field.
Melrose carved out eight hits in the contest with Petry, Rosati, and Jennings getting two hits apiece. Masel and Mike LaRovere each had one hit.
Petry, Rosati, and Cacciola scored the three runs, while Petry, Rosati, and Jennings had the three RBIs.
Jennings and Cacciola both drew walks and Cacciola also stole a base.
Kyle Autilio (2-1) hurled six innings to earn the victory for the Americans. The left-hander surrendered no runs on three hits while striking out seven and walking six.
Brendan McDonough earned his first save giving up one hit.
Andrew Hamel (1-4) went six innings for the Trojans giving up three runs (none earned) on eight hits while striking out two and walking two. He also threw a wild pitch.
Evan Walsh pitched the seventh inning and gave up no runs or hits.
Kyle Bourdrias, Kyle Hood, Morgan Brown, and Paul Donato had the four Arlington hits. Hood and Brown walked twice, while Ed McDonald and Will Martins each drew a free pass as well.
vs. Wakefield Merchants, July 21
On Wednesday, the Wakefield Merchants played host to the Melrose Americans in Intercity League baseball action at Walsh Field. It was a tight contest all the way through and even went into an extra inning with Melrose coming out on top 6-4 in the end.
Darren Bisso got the start on the hill for the Merchants. He tossed two scoreless innings before being replaced by Kyle McCarthy.
Bisso was opposed by Melrose’s Shawn Smeglin. The right-hander picked up the win pitching into the eighth inning.
The Merchants jumped out to an early lead scoring a run in each of the first two innings, holding a 2-0 after two innings.
With a 1-0 lead, John Davison led the second off with a base hit to right. After a one out walk moved Davison into scoring position, he came around on a Lou Tarantino RBI single.
Melrose came back and touched up McCarthy for a run in his first inning of work to cut the lead in half at 2-1.
McCarthy’s first batter, Anthony Licciardello, led off the Melrose half of the third inning with a base hit. Masel followed with a single of his own and there were two on and nobody out. The bases were loaded after a walk to Petry and Melrose was on the board following a sacrifice fly to center by Isaiah Berg.
Melrose managed to tie the game at 2-2 in the top of the fifth. Masel led the inning off with a triple to deep left. Masel scored when Petry hit a ground ball to second base that got through and Petry went up to second base on the throw home. A sac-bunt moved Petry along to third and he came in to score and give Melrose the lead on an Addesa RBI single to left.
Mike Sorrentino worked a walk to lead off the bottom half of the fifth for the Merchants. Jake O’Rourke rolled one down to third base and beat the throw to first reaching safely. Ever the smart baserunner, Sorrentino was digging hard from the crack of the bat. He didn’t break stride around second and slid safely into third to put the pressure squarely on Smeglin’s shoulders. The next batter, Mark Poli, skied a sac-fly to right to score Sorrentino and tie the game at three runs apiece.
Both teams failed to score in the seventh inning, so it would take an extra frame to determine a winner.
Wakefield manager Dave Ellegood called on Sam McCarthy to pitch the eighth inning. He surrendered a leadoff walk to Mike Eqitto, but after getting Zeke Berg to pop back to the mound, Melrose had three consecutive men reach base. First a walk to Andre Gaudet made it first and second with one out before Cacciola and Licciardello singled to knock in a runs to give Melrose a three-run lead, 6-3.
In the bottom of the eighth Smeglin got O’Rourke to fly out to lead off the inning, but an error at third base and a walk forced Melrose manager Kevin Burgoyne to make a call to the bullpen. Autilio got the call and was greeted by McCarthy with an RBI single with the runners advancing to second and third on the throw home. Wakefield had a chance with the tying run on second base, but a pair of weak fly balls to right field ended the threat and the game ended 6-4 in favor of Melrose.
The Americans faced the Merchants once again on Wednesday, July 27 at 6 p.m. at Walsh Field (post deadline). Melrose will host the Somerville Royals on Sunday, July 31 at 4:30 p.m. at Morelli Field.
(Melrose Weekly News Summer Sports Editor Jim Southmayd contributed to this report).
