Warriors overcome six-run deficit, prevail 15-8
HANNAH DZIADYK, a sophomore, had three hits and drove in three runs in Wakefield’s 15-8 triumph over Arlington yesterday at Vets’ Field. (Donna Larsson File Photo)
Published in the April 21, 2016 edition.
By DAN MARGARITA
WAKEFIELD — The Wakefield Memorial High softball team earned its second straight win with a 15-8 victory over Arlington yesterday at Vets’ Field to increase its record to 3-2 on the season.
The Spy Ponders took an early six-run lead that Wakefield was eventually able to overcome.
“It got away from us a lot of bit,” mused Wakefield coach Rick “Coach Q” Quattrocchi.
With two outs, Arlington’s Allison Britt, who had reached on a single, stole second. Emily Benoit hit a pop up to shallow right that second Wakefield baseman Meagan Gibbons gloved but couldn’t hang on to, allowing Britt to score. After Katie O’Brien singled, Jamie Toomey tripled to center to bring in Benoit and O’Brien to make it 3-0.
Ellie Demarre drew a walk and took second on defensive indifference. Erin O’Brien singled in Toomey and Demarre to put Arlington up 5-0. With O’Brien at second on the throw home, Abby Ewen singled her in. The inning ended when Wakefield catcher Nicole Catino caught Ewen trying to steal second, the first of two runners Catino threw out on the day.
“She’s coming along real well. She’s tough to run on,” praised “Coach Q.”
Wakefield responded with a run in the bottom of the inning.
“Down 6-0, I told the girls, ‘It’s 6-0, we’ve got a long way to go. We can hit.’ I told them to be aggressive (and) hit the ball hard. The old cliché, ‘chip away, chip away’ and we did,” said the coach.
Meghan Burnett opened up with a single down the left field line and then stole second. After a ground out to third, Alexi Truesdale reached on an error that scored Burnett to make it 6-1. But that would be all of the Warriors scoring for the inning.
The Warriors were able to tie the game in the bottom of the second inning with a five-run surge.
Olivia Dziadyk led off and reached on an error. She was put out at second when Julia Purcell reached on a fielder’s choice with Purcell moving to second on a passed ball.
Gibbons singled to left and then Catino’s ground out to third scored Purcell. Burnett singled in Gibbons to make it 6-3 and then Vanessa Kaddaras reached on an error. Truesdale singled in Burnett and then Hannah Dziadyk singled to center to score Kaddaras and Truesdale to tie the game at 6-6 before a ground out ended the inning.
Arlington was able to briefly regain the lead in the top of the third inning. Benoit led off with an infield single. After a ground out to the pitcher and a line out to short, Demarre singled in Benoit to make it 7-6 but that was it for the Spy Ponders’ scoring in the inning.
Wakefield retook the lead with two runs in the bottom of the third.
Olivia Dziadyk drew a lead-off walk. Purcell attempted a sacrifice bunt and the ball was fielded by Arlington third baseman Britt, whose throw to first was dropped but Purcell had the beaten throw anyway. Purcell stole second and, after a line out to third, a sacrifice fly by Catino scored Dziadyk to tie the game at 7-7. A triple by Burnett brought in Purcell with the go-ahead run but Burnett was left stranded on third when the inning ended.
Truesdale, who relieved starter Burnett in the first inning, settled down and kept Arlington off the scoreboard for three innings.
“We tied it and Lexi came in and really shut the door. We needed a couple of no score innings from her and we got them from her. We came back and scored,” praised “Coach Q.”
Wakefield tacked on three more runs in the fourth inning. Hannah Dziadyk drew a one-out walk. Emma Hickey singled to right field. Olivia Dziadyk doubled to left field to score Hannah Dziadyk and Hickey to make it 9-7. After a ground out, Gibbons doubled in Olivia Dziadyk to put Wakefield up 10-7.
The home team got some insurance runs in the fifth inning.
Kaddaras reached on a one-out walk and then Truedale singled to left. Hannah Dziadyk singled to right to bring in Kaddaras. Mia Romano ran for Dziadayk and stole second. Hickey reached on an error that scored Truesdale to give Wakefield a 13-7 lead. Olivia Dziadyk singled in Romano and Hickey scored on a fielder’s choice to make it 15-7.
Arlington scratched out a run in the top of the sixth but never seriously threatened Wakefield again.
It was the team’s first home game since the loss of assistant coach Kevin Barry, to whom they have dedicated their season.
“We have a very young team and they scratched clawed, came back and we pulled away. I always tell them you have to play seven hard innings and they did. We’re above the water table now. That’s two for Mr. Barry,” said Quattrocchi.
Wakefield hosts Stoneham tomorrow afternoon at 3:45 p.m. at Vets’ Field.
