Go 1-2, miss Intercity League playoff berth on a tiebreaker
MELROSE SHORTSTOP Austin Masel (#41) makes the throw to first as Chris Sharpe (#4) looks on. The Americans tied the Arlington Trojans for sixth place but missed out on the final Intercity League playoff spot due to the head-to-head tiebreaker. (Donna Larsson File Photo)
Published in the August 14, 2015 edition
MELROSE — The Melrose Americans came close to making the Intercity League playoffs but were left on the outside looking in as they went 1-2 the past week, splitting two games against the Arlington Trojans and dropping a contest against the Reading Bulldogs.
On Sunday, Aug. 9 in the regular season finale at Summer Street Field, the Americans were blanked by the Arlington Trojans by a 4-0 score. As a result of the loss, both the Trojans and Americans finished with identical 9-21-0 records. Arlington clinched the sixth and final ICL playoff spot on the first tiebreaker which was head-to-head competition. The Trojans won the season series, three games to one.
Prior to Sunday’s loss, Melrose dropped a 9-4 contest against the Bulldogs on Thursday, Aug. 6 at Morelli Field. On Wednesday, Aug. 5, the Americans defeated the Trojans by a 7-1 score at Morelli.
vs. Trojans, Aug. 9
The Americans had six hits but were unable to push any runs across as their season came to an end. Meanwhile, the Trojans scored two runs in the first inning, one in the fourth and one in the sixth.
Kevin McGlinchy (1-1) pitched six innings for Melrose giving up four runs (two earned) on eight hits while striking out five batters and walking none.
The six Melrose hits were by Austin Masel, Chris Sharpe, Steve Passatempo, John Jennings, Mike LaRovere and Kyle Autilio. LaRovere had an extra base hit with a double.
Passatempo, Dave Center and Autilio drew the three walks yielded by Arlington pitching.
Andrew Hamel (3-5) went the distance for the Trojans hurling a six-hit shutout. Hamel struck out five batters and walked three.
At the plate, Tom Russo and Morgan Brown both had two hits, while Kyle Hood, Marcus Way, Dave Cunningham and Ben Johnston each had one hit. Russo doubled and tripled and Hood had a double. Also, Joe Bradlee stole a base.
Russo scored two runs, while Hood and Way each both crossed the the plate once. Russo, Brown, Seth Coiley and Cunningham drove in the four runs.
vs. Bulldogs, Aug. 6
The Americans could’ve used a victory against Reading but, despite plating four runs on 10 hits, lost a 9-4 contest to the Bulldogs at Morelli Field.
The Americans scored a run in the first, two in the second, one in the fifth inning. Reading, meanwhile, scored two runs in the first, one in the fourth, four in the fifth and two in the seventh inning.
Masel, Mike Addesa and Jennings each had two hits for the Americans while Sharpe, Passatempo, Brian Carney and LaRovere each had one hit. LaRovere doubled while Sharpe and Dan Cacciola each stole a base.
Masel, Sharpe, Carney and Cacciola scored the four Melrose runs. Passatempo had two RBIs while Masel and Anthony Licciardello each knocked in one run.
Dillon Corliss (3-4) started the game for the Americans going four and two-thirds innings giving up seven runs (five earned) on 13 hits. Corliss struck out four and walked three.
Gianni Esposito pitched an inning and two-thirds giving up two runs (none earned) on three hits. He struck out two and walked one.
Brendan McDonough hurled two-thirds of an inning and had a strikeout.
The Bulldogs used two pitchers in the contest.
Ryan Hayward (2-3) went four innings giving up three runs on seven hits while striking out one.
Jack Burke hurled the final three frames giving up one run (unearned) on three hits. Burke struck out three and walked none.
Harry Oringer led the offense for the Bulldogs with four hits, including two doubles with two runs scored and four RBIs.
Cody Hall had three hits and scored a run.
Darren Hartwell and John Halsey had two hits each while Josh Drew, Zac Talis, Corbine Hydle, Zac Levine and Steve Busby each had a hit. Hartwell doubled and stole a base, while Drew also stole a base.
Hartwell scored four runs, while Oringer crossed the plate twice. Drew, Levine and Hall each scored one run. Oringer led Reading with four RBIs and Talis had two. Drew, Hyde and Halsey each knocked in one run.
Drew walked three times as well.
vs. Trojans, Aug. 5
The Americans scored five runs in the second and that was enough to lift them to a 7-1 win over the Trojans on Wednesday, Aug. 5 at Morelli Field.
Melrose also scored two runs in the sixth and Arlington scored its only run in the third inning.
McGlinchy (1-0) pitched seven innings giving up one run on five hits while striking out seven and walking no one.
He outpitched Arlington hurlers Richie Cardillo and Hamel.
Cardillo (2-5) pitched five innings giving up five runs on eight hits while striking out four and walking two.
Hamel pitched one inning giving up two unearned runs on two hits while striking out three batters and walking none.
Masel led Melrose with three hits, two of which were doubles, and drove in four runs.
Passatempo and Cacciola had two hits apiece while Addesa, Jennings and Licciardello all had one hit. Passatempo doubled twice as well.
LaRovere and Licciardello each scored two runs, while Passatempo, Carney and Cacciola crossed the plate once. Also getting RBIs for the Americans were Sharpe and LaRovere.
Carney walked twice and LaRovere drew one free pass.
For Arlington, Brown had three hits and Conor Reensterna had two hits. Bradlee, who stole a base, also scored the only Trojans run.
