One win away from playoff spot after twin wins

Published in the May 25, 2018 edition

By JENNIFER GENTILE

MELROSE — As their regular season winds down, the Melrose Red Raider baseball team is just one win away from locking in another playoff run after securing two victories wins in their last three games over the week, including a 10-2 thumping of Wakefield on May 16 and a 6-3 victory over Swampscott in the Rockport Memorial Tournament on Saturday.

The wins improved Melrose to 9-8 and if they win one of their next three games, they will stamp their way to a postseason—familiar territory for Bill Hirschfeld’s Red  Raiders, who have qualified each season for over half a decade.  

Melrose began their winning ways when they beat the Wakefield Warriors, 10-3, in a Freedom League rematch on Wednesday, May 16 at Morelli Field in Melrose. Junior hurler Harry Kelley (undefeated on the season) went the distance for the Red Raiders for the win, scattering six hits and fanning four. 

RED RAIDER seniors were honored recently on Senior Day. Pictured are the team’s upperclassmen, from left: Cam Mckenzie, Mike Koytikh, Charlie Stanton, Will Dolaher, Mike Muscarella, Jack Whitley, Jack Sullivan, Joe Stanton, Mike Fennell and Rob Mele. (Donna Larsson photo)

Melrose took a 2-0 lead in the second after Liam Crovo knocked in Mike Fennell and a passed ball scored Mike Koytikh. Red Raider bats were ruthless in the bottom of the inning, with Charlie Stanton and Liam Crovo knocking in two runs each. Melrose made it a 7-0 game when Mike Fennell scored two and Mike Koytikh knocked in Will Dolaher. The Warriors struggled on the mound, utilizing four pitchers over seven innings, and saw most of the damage in the first three innings when they fell to an 8-0 deficit. Wakefield was down 9-2 going into the sixth and closed the gap, 10-3, by the end of the game. 

Melrose battled against another Freedom League opponent, Burlington, the next afternoon and saw a very solid pitching performance from Mike Muscarella, who, despite going the distance and tossing a low scoring game, saw the Red Devils steal victory in the 8th when junior Matt Tyman scored the game-winner. According to Melrose coach Bill Hirschfeld, Muscarella continues to do his job with solid pitching but has lacked backup. “He’s not really getting the run support he needs, but he’s doing everything right on the mound,” he said of the talented starter. 

Senior pitcher Will Dolaher has enjoyed a very successful season on the mound for Melrose, and that was evident in his 6-3 win over Swampscott on Saturday at the Rockport Memorial Tournament in Rockport. Dolaher went the distance, scattering 5 hits, and was solid behind the plate with 2 hits of his own. Melrose bats came alive in this contest with Melrose battling back from a 3-0 deficit to tie things up in the third, then scored three more thanks to efforts from Mike Fennell, Mike Muscarella and Joe Stanton, who had 2 RBIs to knock both in during the sixth. 

Pitching remains Melrose’s strong suit, with recent solid efforts in relief from Dylan Kaliris, Rob Mele and Joe Stanton, and their starters Muscarella, Dolaher and Kelley are pitching as strongly as one would expect.  

As Melrose fights for a playoff spot, they hope to take their hitting to another level. “Our pitching has been our strong suit,” says Hirschfeld. “And our defense has been solid of late and can really make or break a game. But we need to take our hitting up a notch.” 

Still, he points to recent efforts at the plate by Mike Fennell, Jack Whitney and Liam Crovo as good examples. “Jack and Mike, our seniors, both came back after a year off and what they’ve done is something they should be proud of.”

His senior captains, meanwhile, have answered the call. Jack Sullivan, Charlie Stanton and Mike Muscarella have risen to a leadership level expected of them. “Jack [Sullivan] has had a great season and his work at first base has saved us many times. Mike [Muscarella] has done so much for us on the mound that we depend on him, and Charlie – our catcher – has been our anchor. All of them have proven to be great leaders.” 

The coach acknowledges the tough overall competition in the Middlesex League this season. “It seems every team in the Liberty and Freedom division are in the hunt of things. It’s not every season you see so many of the Middlesex League teams in a playoff bracket, but this will be one of those seasons.” 

And hopefully, that contingent will include Melrose.