MORELLI FIELD continues to see plenty of great Intercity League action this season. The Americans will likely compete in a one-game playoff to make the full postseason field sometime next week. Visit www.intercityleaguebaseball.com for more information. (File Photo)

 

MELROSE — The Melrose Americans entered the final week of the Intercity League regular season in a good position to make the 2022 ICL playoffs.

As of press time on Wednesday, 9-11 Melrose was 5th out of the six teams in the ICL with 19 points but the last place Malden Maddogs (6-17) were firmly on the outside looking in with 12 points.

The top five teams make the playoffs with the No. 4 and No. 5 seed teams playing a one-game playoff to get the official number of playoff squads down to four.

The Andre Chiefs (11-11) are 4th with 23 points while the Reading Bulldogs (12-10) are 3rd at 24 points.

The Lexington Blue Sox (14-8) and Middlesex Expos (14-9) are tied for 1st with 28 points.

Melrose had four games left as of press time. At the time of publication the Americans will have two left – against the Expos on Friday night, 8:30 p.m. at Trum Field and on Sunday, 4 p.m. against Reading at Morelli Field. The one-game playoff will take place next week at a time and location to be determined.

The Americans have dropped three one-run games in a row, falling to the Blue Sox 7-6 on July 22, the Expos 5-4 on July 24 and the Chiefs 6-5 on July 25.

Melrose has multiple players making a name for themselves this summer.

Pat Costigan leads the league in hits with 30 and is second in batting average at .417.

Cory Bright is 3rd in doubles with six. Bright is 2nd in the league in hits with 27.

Aidan Barry is 5th in runs batted in with 16.

With Costigan, Bright and Barry leading the offense, the Americans have leaned on ace Chris Mitchell the most on the mound, the righty tossing 33 innings so far, 4th most in the league.

Mitchell, who is likely to get the rock in a one-game playoff, is 1st in the league in ERA with a 1.70. He’s 5-1 and has 29 strikeouts to just 6 walks.

To follow up on the standings, as well as the date and location of the wild card playoff game, visit www.intercityleaguebaseball.com.