OUT AT HOME. Melrose’s Mike Richards tags out Wakefield’s Zack Kent at the plate during a supercharged game last week. On Monday, Melrose picked up a big win over Weston at home. (Dan Pawlowski photo)

 

By CONNER BYRNE

MELROSE- The Melrose High varsity baseball team took a Patriots Day victory as they beat Weston, 16-5, on Monday at Fred Green Memorial Field.

Trevor Botto started the day on the mound for Melrose and was looking to build off of his previous strong performances. A muffed bunt and a walk would put runners on first and second, but a pair of strikeouts and one defensive play from Melrose would get Botto out of the jam.

From there, the Melrose bats erupted to kick off what would be an explosive offensive performance for the ball club. Matthew Whelan would kick off the inning with a single and a pair of stolen bases to put him on third. Trevor Botto and Malcolm Whitfield would both walk to load the bases up for Rowan Smith. Smith would be hit by a pitch to knock in a run and a wild pitch in the next at bat would allow Melrose to strike first and go up 2-0. With another walk by the Weston hurler, Rob Colozzo would come up with the bases loaded and hit into a fielder’s choice to knock in a run to make it 3-0. Some more offense from Domenic Lamentea and Drew Harrington would make the ballgame 6-0. Matthew Whelan would reappear in the inning with an RBI double to make the contest 7-0, and a later hit from Malcolm Whitfield would force an error for Weston to give Melrose two more runs on the inning to cap off the Red Hawk’s 9-0 start after one.

Andrew Izzi would relieve Trevor Botto after the first inning and would pitch a solid second inning. As the 3rd inning started, Izzi would walk a batter and an eventual passed ball would allow Weston to get their first run of the game making the game 9-1. Two strikeouts by Izzi and a great play at first base from Ben Cassavoy would end the top half of the 3rd and put a halt to any chance of Weston making a run.

Some more offense came from Melrose as two RBI singles from Rowan Smith and Michael Richards would make the score 11-1, and a sac fly from Rob Colozzo later in the inning would add one more to the scoreboard to make the game 12-1 after three innings of play.

The 5th inning would bring some offense for Weston as they were able to scrap four runs off of Andrew Izzi and reliever Ryan Dolan to make the contest 12-5. After giving up four runs, Melrose would still respond with their hot bats with a pair of singles from Michael Richards and Thomas Foley, and a fielder’s choice from Drew Harrington later in the inning would knock in a run making the score 13-5.

Ryan Dolan was able to keep Weston at bay to start the 6th, striking out two batters and allowing his defense to get Melrose back up to bat. Dolan would continue to help the Red Hawks by knocking in another run for Melrose making the score 14-5, and a double from Michael Richards would knock in two runs to put the score at 16-5 ending the game early as Melrose was able to mercy rule Weston in the 6th inning.

The hot bats of Melrose were just too much for Weston on Patriots Day and Melrose now improves to 4-3 on the season. Melrose will next travel to Wilmington for a 4:15 p.m. game on Friday.