Comeback over Malden ends in 6-4 victory
Published in the April 14, 2017 edition
THE MELROSE Red Raider baseball team took their season opener against Malden in a 6-4 comeback victory. Pictured is hurler John Casparriello. (Donna Larsson photo)
By LUC SULLIVAN
MALDEN— The Melrose High School boys baseball team served up a fresh 6-4 loss to the Malden Golden Tornados at a very windy Pine Banks Park during their season opener on Saturday, April 8.
The Red Raiders got off to a rocky start as the Golden Tornados batted in three runs during the first. But by the bottom of the second Melrose’s Cal MacDonald took advantage of a Malden error for a double, and was later brought home by a sacrifice smack off of Charlie Stanton’s bat to bring the score up to 3-1.
Melrose’s defense would step up in the third and fourth innings with John Casparriello pitching heat to freeze up the Malden batters and the Raider outfield reacting quick to make smart plays and maintain their deficit at 3-1.
Red Raider Max Watson was able to furnish some much needed offense in the bottom of the fourth with a base hit, and after stealing third, was brought home by Charlie Stanton’s second sacrifice hit of the day. With the score now 3-2 Melrose started cooking up a comeback. The Raider defense made short work of Malden in the top of the fifth and the Raiders stepped back up to bat with a vengeance in the bottom of the fifth facing a gassed Cyclone pitcher.
With the bases loaded off of a hit and two walks, Malden would walk two more, sending two Raiders across the plate and giving Melrose the lead at 4-3. Malden swapped out their pitcher but the Raiders weren’t finished just yet. Max Watson caught a piece and cracked a scorcher off the ground and into the outfield to bring home two more runs. The Raiders scored four runs in the fifth to grab a 6-3 lead with the cushion.
Malden would bring one home during their next at bat to bump the score up to 6-4. But Melrose wouldn’t let anything up after that. The Raiders held their lead for the remainder of the game with shortstop Joe Stanton’s consistent glove and the rest of the Melrose outfield turning the Golden Tornados into a minor breeze.
Next up: Melrose hosts Wayland on Monday at Morelli Field at 3:45.
