Clutch hits result in 2-1 triumph over Winchester in LTA contest
Published in the July 22, 2015 edition
DEVIN SHAW (right) gets the putout at first during a recent LTA game for the Wakefield Townies in the A division. The Townies pulled out a 2-1 victory over Winchester in a well-played contest last night at Walsh Field. (Donna Larsson File Photo)
By DAN MARGARITA
WAKEFIELD — The Wakefield Townies A division team hosted its rival from Winchester last night in a Lou Tompkins All Star Baseball contest and came away with a 2-1 victory at Walsh Field behind solid pitching from Robert Shaw.
“Rob’s pretty good. He keeps the ball around the plate and makes changes with his change and curveball and he throws strikes. He didn’t throw a lot of pitches. They helped us by swinging at a lot of first pitches. He pitched a good game,” said Wakefield manager Gus Dettorre.
Wakefield got its first run in the bottom of the first inning. With two outs, Nick Porter tripled to center just beating the throw to arrive safely at the bag. Chris Dettorre drove him in with a double to left to give Wakefield a 1-0 lead before a ground out ended the inning.
“We had timely hitting. We didn’t hit well but we got the hits when we needed them. The first inning we get the back-to-back triple then a double to score that run. The sixth inning we get on on an error and a hit moves him over and then a sac-fly scores that run. That’s good baseball,” manager Dettorre noted.
Winchester got runners in scoring position in the second inning but couldn’t put a run across. With one out Nick Catacupa singled to left and Max Gebolys drew a walk. Both runners advanced on a double steal but Shaw managed to induce a pop up and a strikeout to end the threat.
Winchester could do little against Shaw who only allowed two runners to get as far as third before Winchester was able to break through for a run to tie the game in the top of the sixth.
With one out, Teddy Falkenberg singled down the third base line and then stole second before going on to steal third. John Mahoney singled to left to score Falkenberg to make it 1-1. Mahoney then stole second but Shaw was able to get a strikeout (looking) and a ground out to short.
Wakefield went ahead in the bottom half of the inning. Tyler Pugsley led off and reached on a throwing error that put him on second base. Shaw singled to right to put runners at the corners but Shaw was erased trying to steal second. Porter hit a fly ball deep enough to center to allow Pugsley to tag and score what would be the eventual winning run to put Wakefield up 2-1.
“Defensively, I don’t think we made any errors. Maybe (there was) one ball we could’ve gotten to but other than that we played well. They made an error but it was a well played game overall,” Dettorre said.
The Townies increased their record to 5-4 on the season. Wakefield also defeated the Boston Astros 2 team on Sunday by a 7-0 score. Wakefield’s game against Cambridge, originally scheduled for Saturday at Walsh Field, was rained out. That game will be made up on Wednesday, July 29 at 5:45 p.m. at Sullivan Park.
The Townies next game is scheduled for tomorrow night at 5:45 p.m. against the Boston Astros 1 team at Marcella Field.
