Published in the May 19, 2017 edition
THE MELROSE Lady Raider softball team was edged by Wakefield on Monday, 5-2. (Donna Larsson photo)
By LUC SULLIVAN
MELROSE—The Melrose High School softball team was unable to hold on for the win in a 5-2 loss against Wakefield on Monday, May 16 at The Melrose Commons. The game started with Wakefield darting out to an early lead while Melrose struggled to get the offense going. The Raiders offensive stall had a lot to due with some good pitching and quick work in the outfield on the Warriors’ behalf.
However, by the fifth inning Melrose had snapped themselves out of their funk, and fielded a quick three- and-out-inning thanks to Victoria Crovo and Saoirse Connolly holding down the infield, and the Raider pitcher Jill Stone who snatched a line drive for the third out with cat-like reflexes. At the Raiders next at bat, sophomore Jill Stone sent one into orbit for a triple and Emily Cataldo brought her home for the Raiders first run, leaving the score at Wakefield 4, Melrose 1.
In the top of the sixth, Melrose ace Josephine Andruskiewicz took over on the mound and got the immediate strikeout which was followed by a low grounder beamed to Crovo who handled it nicely and chucked the ball over to Connolly at first for the second out. The Warriors were able to round home once more in that inning, leaving the score at the bottom of the sixth at Wakefield 5, Melrose 1— with Melrose looking like they might be on the verge of setting up a comeback.
At the bottom of the seventh, however, the score had remained the same. Colette Skinner got the offense going again with a liner to low centerfield for a single and shortly after showed great awareness by stealing second base during an error by the Wakefield infield. With Jill Stone’s next at bat Skinner was brought home, raising the score to Wakefield 5, Melrose 2. This would be the last score Melrose was able to bring in for the day as Wakefield came out on top, 5-2.
Melrose travels to Stoneham on Friday to take on the Spartans at 3:45 p.m.
