Warriors crush Stoneham, Woburn to go to 5-0
EMMA KRAUS had two hits, one run scored and three RBIs in Wakefield’s win over Stoneham on Friday afternoon at SHS Field. On Saturday, Kraus went 4-for-5 with four runs scored and four RBIs in the Warriors’ 13-5 triumph over Woburn. (Donna Larsson File Photo)
By DAN MARGARITA
STONEHAM — The Wakefield Memorial High softball team continued to roll over its opponents, traveling to Stoneham on Friday where it dismantled the Spartans, 17-1, in a game halted by mercy-rule in the fifth inning.
The Warriors then went on to defeat Woburn by a 13-5 score on Saturday morning at Library Park to increase their record to 5-0 on the season.
In the Stoneham game on Friday, it looked early on as though Wakefield would squander some offensive opportunities, which the Warriors did in the first inning.
“The first inning was rough. I thought we looked at too many pitches. I was a little angry with them, so they woke up and they played very well,” noted Wakefield coach Rick “Coach Q.” Quattocchi.
Freshman Meghan Burnett got the start on the mound and held the young Spartan squad to just four hits, while striking out four and walking one.
Wakefield took its first lead in the second inning. Nicole Gasdia led off and was hit by pitcher Stephanie Bamforth and then moved to second on a wild pitch. After a strikeout, Meg Gibbons reached on an error and then Nicole Catino walked to load the bases.Burnett doubled to center to score Gasdia and Gibbons to make it 2-0. Amanda Boulter walked to reload the bases and then Emma Kraus singled up the middle off the glove of pitcher Bamforth to bring in Catino with Wakefield’s third run. A wild pitch scored Burnett and then Alexi Truesdale walked to load the bases. Hayley Kaddaras singled to score Boulter to give Wakefield its fifth and final run of the inning.
Wakefield got another run in the third inning. With one out, Catino was hit by a pitch and then stole second. She was singled in by Boulter.
The game was blown open in the fourth inning when Wakefield scored four more runs. Truesdale led off with a double down the left field line and moved to third on a ground out. Gasdia drew a walk but kept on rounding the bases and stole second on the play. Olivia Dziadyk singled to right to score Truesdale and first baseman Leah Sacco couldn’t handle the throw to right field, allowing Gasdia score to make it 8-0.
Gibbons reached on a fielder’s choice for the second out and stole second. Catino walked and both runners advanced on a wild pitch. Burnett reached on an error that scored Gibbons and then Burnett took second without a throw (defensive indifference). Boulter drew a walk and Kraus singled in Catino to make it 10-0 by the end of the inning.
Stoneham finally broke through for a run in the fourth inning against Burnett, who was making her first varsity start.
“This was a freshman pitcher pitching her first varsity game, pitching to a freshman catcher who did an outstanding job. We had a freshman second baseman, a freshman right fielder and the shortstop’s a sophomore. Then I took the right fielder out and put in her twin sister who’s a freshman. I took the other freshman at second base and put in the other freshman at second base. I don’t lose anything. Everybody’s interchangeable,” noted “Coach Q.”
With one out, Taylor Schon drew a walk and then Dominique DelVecchio followed with a single to left. Toni Magno singled down the third base line to score Schon to make it 10-1, but that was all the offense that the Spartans mustered on the day.
“I’ve got three starters. (Amanda) Boulter’s the number one, (Alexi)Truesdale’s the number two and here’s the little freshman. I’ve got a senior, a sophomore and a freshman, Not bad to have. I’ve never had that. I usually have the one pitcher and maybe a number two is questionable,” said Quattrocchi.
Wakefield stormed seven more runs across the plate in the top of the fifth inning.
With one out, Gasdia doubled off the base of the center field fence and scored on a double down the left field line by Hannah Dziadyk. Vanessa Kaddaras walked and then Catino bunted for a single to load the bases. Burnett singled to center to score Dziadyk with Wakefield’s 12th run. Boulter’s single to left brought in Kaddaras to reload the bases and then Kraus walked to force in Catino to put Wakefield up 14-1. Truesdale lined out to shortstop Maddie Kely, who threw to first to try and double off Kraus but her throw got away and allowed Burnett to score. Hayley Kaddaras doubled to score Boulter and Kraus for Wakefield’s last two runs.
With an extensive lead, the “mercy rule” was employed and Wakefield took the game 17-1 after five innings.
“I thought we hit the ball like we’re capable of. We pitched well and we played good defense (and had) stolen bases galore again. We’re still running the bases like we can,” noted “Coach Q.”
Against Woburn, Kraus led the way as she went 4-for-5 with four RBIs and runs scored.
The Warriors were scheduled to take on Methuen in a non-league game this morning in their first game at Vets’ Field this spring. Wakefield’s next league game is Wednesday morning at 10 a.m. when it hosts Wilmington at Vets’ Field.
