Experienced roster returns to 2024 season 

THE MELROSE High baseball team opened their season this weekend and will host Winchester on Monday at 5:30 p.m. (Photo by Raj Das, edphotos.com)

 

After press time: Melrose defeats Winchester 5-1 (April 8)

 

By JENNIFER GENTILE 

MELROSE—The Melrose High baseball team is back and getting in quality innings as they battle with Mother Nature to kick off an uninterrupted start to the season. 

Melrose hosted a home opener against Belmont at Morelli Field in Melrose on Monday, April 1, falling in a 9-4 contest, and, will next host Winchester on Monday April 8 at 5:30 p.m. 

Melrose returns an experienced roster of 17 players, including 11 starters, which could bode well for them this season. Particularly, they return positional players who should be able to pick up where they left off in 2023. Leading the team for captains are seniors Ben Cassavoy, Jake Skane, Tyler Muse and junior Mike Thomas. 

On the mound, look for Cassavoy to serve as Melrose’s #1 hurler. He had a solid 2023 and is expected to challenge the league all season. Said Melrose head coach Scott Searles, “Ben is a clear cut number one and should be one of the top pitchers in the league.” 

The team is currently mulling alternative pitching options after an injury fell upon their number two. Says Searles, “What was looking like a very solid pitching staff took a hit in the last couple weeks. We basically have three or four guys vying for those last two spots.”  

Look for starters to include all four captains plus Dylan Harrington, Brendan Doyle and Jaiden Aquino. Players such as Brian Capodilupo, Jackson Orlandella, Reid Heidebrecht, Ethan Burns and Thomas Santoriello should also get quality innings. Some very talented underclassmen include John Casey, Jay Dennison, Tyler Garipay, Brendan Sestito, Max Lanciani, and Cadel McKeown. 

Around the horn, look for Cassavoy and Capodilupo to swap playing third base when the other is pitching, according to Searles. Mike Thomas will serve as the everyday short stop. Brendan Doyle and Dylan Harrington will split the catching duties.  Tyler Muse will hold down center field and Cadel Mckeown will patrol right field.  Jake Skane and Reid Heidebrecht will get first crack at first base.  Aquino will get most of the work at DH but his absence left has created a window for other players, and, Melrose will also try different lineups at second base. The coach also anticipates having some swing players from junior varsity.  

Last year, Melrose finished the season in search of more wins, which they hope to improve on. Says Searles, “We were very young last year and the speed of the varsity game came as a shock to some guys. Offensively, we’re going to be able to compete at a higher level. I’m excited from what I’m seeing out of guys.”

So far, he’s happy with the leadership on the team. “I really like what I’m seeing from a leadership standpoint so far.  I think a lot of guys that were more tentative last year have grown far more comfortable.  Anyone can be a leader and being a senior doesn’t automatically make you one.  You have to earn it and it has to be a part of your make up.”

Melrose will battle with Mother Nature this week and they also have the challenge of a tough schedule from the get go, with ML Large teams Belmont, Reading and Winchester to open, followed by reigning league champ Wakefield.  

The Middlesex League has opened quickly (compared to other leagues) according to Searles and that presents unique challenges. “It isn’t a whole lot of time to get team stuff installed. So we have to pick and choose what we get in before game one.”

And as always, the Middlesex League remains one of the toughest around, though Melrose also has a tough non-conference schedule, too. “I wanted to challenge the guys this year because that’s how the tournament is,” says Searles. Melrose will compete against Masconomet and Peabody and host to Boston Latin Academy and Cambridge Rindge this season.

And expect the ML Freedom League to offer no days off. Says the coach, “It’s kind of an ‘any given Sunday’ type deal.  Wakefield and Stoneham have been tough in the small and Wilmington is growing something up there. We have a couple new head coaches in the league that could play a factor. Lexington and Reading are always going to be tough in the large, but everyone is a challenge up there.” 

Look for Melrose to search for an early win when they host Winchester on Monday at 5:30 p.m.