Wakefield softball tops Melrose 19-5, improves to 2-2

MOLLY BURNS follows through on a solo home run in the 2nd inning of Wakefield’s 19-5 win over Melrose yesterday. Burns had 2 RBI in the win. (Dan Pawlowski Photo)

MELROSE — The Wakefield High softball team traveled to Pine Banks Park yesterday to take on Melrose in the first matchup of the season between the two rivals. 

A 7-run 2^nd inning for the Warriors set the tone and put them in the driver’s seat for the rest of the game as they ended up closing it out in 6 innings by a final score of 19-5.

Freshman Kayla Shaw had an impressive game in the circle for Wakefield, collecting 14 strikeouts on her way to a victory.

Wakefield’s offense was paced by Jackie Sullivan (HR, 3RBI), Molly Burns (HR, 2RBI) and Kathryn Sliski (4RBI). 

Burns and Sullivan had the highlight of the game, hitting back-to-back solo homers during the team’s breakout 2^nd inning. Four walks and later a sac fly by Jade Waterhouse made it 3-0. Later in the inning, Sliski hit a 2-RBI single and a wild pitch would push the lead to 6-0. Burns’ homer was an opposite field shot, getting over the head of the right fielder and rolling towards the fence, giving Burns plenty of time for an inside-the-park home run. 

The same would be true for Sullivan, whose laser went to a gap in left-center, also carrying plenty far enough for her to round the bags and create another Warrior party at the plate for an 8-0 advantage.

Shaw was lights out through the first 3 innings, allowing her team to eventually take a 14-0 lead. She struck out the side in both the 1^st and 2^nd, pitching around a bases-loaded jam in the 1^st, and striking out three in a row in the 2^nd. She added two more in the 3^rd for 8 K’s through three frames. 

The Warriors tacked on 3 more in the 3^rd on an RBI single from Waterhouse and a 2-RBI triple by Sliski. 

A Chloe Seto 2-RBI triple and an RBI base hit by Nicole Dowd made it 14-0 Warriors in the 4^th. 

Melrose extended the game with 5 runs in the 4^th but Shaw settled back in after that, shutting out the home team again for the final two innings. 

The Warriors cruised from there, finishing the game by a mercy rule in 6. 

Wakefield’s win was a strong bounce-back from a close, 6-5 loss to Belmont on the road Monday. 

Wakefield’s tough schedule to start the season will continue when they host reigning Middlesex League and D2 state champion Burlington (3-0) on Wednesday, April 17 at 10 a.m.