Wakefield eliminated from ICL playoff contention due to tiebreaker
MIKE SORRENTINO had one of the eight Merchants hits in Wakefield’s 3-2 win over the Andre Chiefs last night in the regular season finale. (Donna Larsson File Photo)
Published in the August 5, 2016 edition.
MALDEN — The Wakefield Merchants needed eight innings but they got the win they wanted with a 3-2 decision over the Andre Chiefs in a makeup game at Maplewood Field in their regular season finale.
However, their hopes of making the Intercity League playoffs were dashed as the Somerville Royals crushed the Melrose Americans by a 10-0 score last night at Trum Field.
Wakefield finished up the regular season with an 8-18-2 record in the Intercity League standings, while the Royals finished the regular season with a 9-18-0 record.
Due to ICL rules, the first tiebreaker rule is the team with the most wins gets in. So the Royals are in with the nine victories and Wakefield is out with only eight wins. Somerville’s final game against the Melrose Americans, which was postponed on Sunday, doesn’t need to be made up since all the playoff spots and seeds are locked up.
The Merchants plated the game-winner in the bottom of the eighth inning as they were designated as the home team since the contest was originally scheduled to be played on Sunday at Walsh Field. But the game was rained out in one of the few postponements this summer.
John Russolillo (3-2) pitched all eight innings for the Merchants and earned the victory. The right-hander gave up two runs (one earned) on five hits while walking six and striking out five. He also hit a batter.
The Chiefs, the regular season champion and top seeded team for the upcoming playoffs, took a 2-0 lead with single runs in the first and third innings. The Merchants plated two runs in the fifth to tie the game at 2-2. The contest remained deadlocked until Wakefield scored in the bottom of the eighth to prevail.
Scott Searles led the way offensively with three hits for the Merchants. Searles also scored a run and drove in a run.
Mike Sorrentino, Nick Napoli, Chris Butler, Jake O’Rourke and Brendan Barry all had one hit. O’Rourke had the extra base hit with a double.
Searles, O’Rourke and Barry scored the three runs, while Searles, Butler and Barry drove in the three runs.
Napoli, Butler and Joe Barry drew the three walks.
The Chiefs used three pitchers in the contest. Jared Freni started the game, Tim Dunphy entered the contest in the second and Mike DiCato came in to pitch in the fifth inning and went the rest of the way for Andre and suffered the loss. DiCato’s season record fell to 4-1-1.
