Burlington, Boston Latin fall to Melrose 

MELROSE HURLER Ben Cassavoy came up victorious again for the Melrose High baseball team in their 4-1 win over Boston Latin. (photo by Raj Das edphoto.com)

By JENNIFER GENTILE 

MELROSE—The Melrose High baseball team is making the most out of their school break.

The team picked up two wins in a matter of three days with victorious efforts against Burlington and Boston Latin this week, to improve them to 3-2 on the season as they now embark on a stretch of Middlesex Freedom games, including Stoneham on the road on Friday, and Watertown at home on Monday.

Melrose hit the right notes against the Burlington Red Devils on a make-up game at home on Saturday, April 13 and walked away with a 5-3 win. It was a joint effort on the mound with Thomas Santoriello getting the start on the mound for four innings with the win and Brendan Doyle earning the save.

Melrose was hot at the plate with Dylan Harrington earning three hits and three stolen bases. Melrose also benefitted from RBIs from Brendan Doyle and Cadel McKeown.

Despite being down by two runs early, Melrose came back with a 4 run inning in the fourth to take a 4-2 lead they wouldn’t lose. McKeown’s sac fly helped put Melrose up 5-2 in the sixth.

“The fourth inning was really what changed the game,” said coach Scott Searles after the game. “There wasn’t one moment, but we needed to respond and we did in a big way.”

One pivotal moment came from Melrose outfielder Max Lanciani, who had a diving catch in left field down the line with a runner in scoring position. “That could have swung the momentum of the game,” says Searles. “But instead, it re-energized the team.”

The two teams will face each other again later this season on the road. Notes the coach, “Burlington has a new coach that will do good things there.  I think they’re in the process of figuring some things out but I expect them to be tough when we see them again down the road.”

Melrose was also host to Boston Latin on Tuesday. Melrose’s Ben Cassavoy threw another gem in a 4-1 victory at Morelli Field that saw Jackson Orlandella earn the save on the mound for Melrose.

Melrose benefited from a key sacrifice fly from McKeown and a big hit by Doyle to advance runners.

After making the short trek to Stoneham on Friday for a 4:15 p.m. game, Melrose will host Watertown at the same time on Monday at Morelli Field.